Ninth-annual edition features one of junior golf’s strongest fields,
highlighted by 26 Rolex All-Americans
(ORLANDO, Fla.) – The ANNIKA Foundation – golf Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam’s charitable organization – announces the 2017 ANNIKA Invitational USA will return to Reunion Resort’s Watson Course, Feb. 17-20.
Produced in association with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), the 72 player, all-girls field (ages 12-19) is annually recognized as one of the strongest in junior golf. The 54 hole, stroke-play event will feature 26 Rolex Junior All-Americans and competitors hailing from 15 states and 12 foreign countries.
Top players include defending champion Jaravee Boonchant of Bradenton, Fla. (committed to Duke University), No. 2-ranked Emilia Migliaccio of Cary, N.C. (committed to Wake Forest University) and Lucy Li of Redwood Shores, Calif., who garnered headlines in 2014 when she became the youngest player (11) to ever qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open.
“We’re very proud of the fact that since our first event in 2009, more than 200 ANNIKA Invitational participants have gone on to play NCAA Division I golf, with several reaching the LPGA,” says Annika, winner of 10 major championships and captain of Europe’s 2017 Solheim Cup team. “It’s inspiring and energizing to be around the girls year-after-year and play a small role in helping them realize their dreams on and off the course.”
Annika is intimately involved in tournament week, which lives up to its “More than Golf” tagline with a gala dinner, seminars about the college admission process, nutrition and fitness, and more.
Her ANNIKA Foundation hosts four junior tournaments in addition to the ANNIKA Invitational USA – the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills (China), ANNIKA Invitational Europe (Sweden), ANNIKA Cup (Sweden) and ANNIKA Invitational Latin America (Argentina).
They’re joined on the schedule by the ANNIKA Intercollegiate Presented by 3M, which moves to Minnesota for this year’s edition. Since its 2014 inception, the ANNIKA Intercollegiate has annually hosted the strongest field in women’s NCAA Division I golf. Each year the ANNIKA Foundation also presents the ANNIKA Award Presented by 3M to the most outstanding Division I golfer.
For more information: www.annikasorenstam.com/foundation.
About the ANNIKA Foundation
Annika created the ANNIKA Foundation (www.annikasorenstam.com/foundation) to provide opportunities in women’s golf at the junior, collegiate and professional levels while teaching young people the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition. 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 ANNIKA Invitational USA in Orlando, Fla.; ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills in China; ANNIKA Invitational Europe and ANNIKA Cup in Sweden; and, 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 in Minnesota). SPARK grants to schools, financial support of Healthy 100 Kids, endowing an AJGA ACE Grant, ANNIKA Junior Day and the “Share My Passion” Clinic in partnership with LPGA*USGA Girls Golf are other initiatives.
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo.Agency
703.344.6031
sreynolds@buffalo.agency
Buffalo.Agency
