Strongest field in women’s college golf features 11 top Division I programs
(ORLANDO, Fla.) — The ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M, a college golf tournament co-founded by the ANNIKA Foundation and Golfweek, will once again boast the strongest field in women’s Division I golf with 11 of the nation’s top programs confirmed for the event at Reunion Resort, September 24-27.
The third edition of the 54-hole, stroke-play competition will showcase a “who’s who” of powerhouses (2016-17 pre-season rankings in parentheses): UCLA (1), 2015 ANNIKA Intercollegiate champion USC (2), Duke (4), Georgia (6), Florida (7), Oklahoma State (9), Arizona State (10), Arizona (11), Arkansas (12), Virginia (14) and 2014 ANNIKA Intercollegiate champion South Carolina (17). The 12th member of the field and host school is the University of Central Florida.
Georgia, Florida and Virginia are first-time participants, while UCLA, USC, Duke, Arizona and South Carolina will return for the third-consecutive year. Defending individual ANNIKA Intercollegiate champion Karen Chung (USC) is one of the many All-Americans scheduled to play. Others include 2016 ANNIKA Award Presented by 3M winner Bronte Law (UCLA), 2015 ANNIKA Award winner Leona Maguire (Duke) and 2016 NCAA Individual Champion Virginia Elena Carta (Duke).
“We’re so excited to have secured yet another stellar field for the ANNIKA Intercollegiate,” says Annika, the 1991 NCAA Champion and National Co-Player of the Year at the University of Arizona. “Our event’s growth since its 2014 debut is astounding and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and 3M’s unwavering support.”
In addition to hosting the tournament, Annika will also formally bestow the ANNIKA Award Presented by 3M to Law, who was voted the nation’s most outstanding Division I female golfer by her peers, coaches and media.
The rising junior tallied three wins (the NCAA Bryan Regional, PING / ASU Invitational and Stanford Intercollegiate Hosted by Condoleeza Rice) and four other top-four finishes in her 11 stroke-play starts. She also ended the season atop the Golfweek / Sagarin Women’s Amateur rankings.
The ANNIKA Award is the female equivalent of the Haskins Award, which has been given to the most outstanding Division I male golfer since 1971. Selection is governed by the Haskins Commission of Columbus, Ga., which oversees the vote for both honors.
For more information: www.annikafoundation.org.
About 3M
At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $30 billion in sales, our 90,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNewsroom.
About the ANNIKA Foundation
Annika created the ANNIKA Foundation (www.annikafoundation.org) as a way to teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offer aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. The Foundation has partnered with key organizations to promote healthy, active lifestyles for children, including SPARK, Florida Hospital for Children in support of its Healthy 100 Kids initiative and The First Tee in development of the Nine Healthy Habits curriculum for children.
It annually conducts five major golf events for aspiring junior girls: the AJGA ANNIKA Invitational in Orlando, Fla.; ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills in China; ANNIKA Invitational Europe and ANNIKA Cup in Sweden; and, new for 2016 in association with The R&A, the ANNIKA Invitational Latin America in Argentina. In 2013, the Foundation’s reach extended to the collegiate ranks with the ANNIKA Award Presented by 3M (awarded to most outstanding female NCAA Division I golfer) and ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M (12-team, 54-hole event at Reunion Resort). SPARK grants to schools, financial support of Healthy 100 Kids, endowing an AJGA ACE Grant, ANNIKA Junior Day and scholarships for aspiring Swedish juniors are other important initiatives.
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo.Agency
703.344.6031
sreynolds@buffalo.agency
Buffalo.Agency
