Lincicome to Conclude Final Full-Time Season on the LPGA Tour at Hometown Event; Kuehn Set to Turn Professional at The ANNIKA
Tickets on Sale at www.TheAnnika.com
BELLEAIR, Fla. – Tournament officials announced today that Major Champion and Tampa resident Brittany Lincicome and Wake Forest All-American Rachel Kuehn have accepted sponsor exemptions to compete in The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, taking place at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, Nov. 11-17.
At The ANNIKA, Lincicome will wind down her prolific LPGA Tour career, while Kuehn will kick start her professional golf career.
Lincicome, an eight-time LPGA Tour winner, the 2024 U.S. Solheim Cup assistant captain and a two-time major champion, will conclude her final full-time season on the LPGA Tour at The ANNIKA. She will compete on the LPGA Tour in a limited schedule beginning in 2025.
“I’ve had a tremendous career on and off the golf course on the LPGA Tour, and I’m incredibly honored and humbled to have the opportunity finish my final full-time season where everything started for me here in the Tampa Bay region,” said Lincicome, who resides in Seminole. “Thank you to Pelican Golf Club, Gainbridge and Annika for giving me the opportunity to compete in front of my family, friends and fans.”
Kuehn, who concluded her fifth season at Wake Forest in May and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, will make her LPGA Tour debut as a professional at The ANNIKA. She finished her collegiate career as one of the best players in program history, earning eight individual titles in her five seasons and was the first player to earn back-to-back ACC Player of the Year titles in program history (2022 and 2023). She competed in The ANNIKA in 2023 as a sponsor exemption while at Wake Forest, finishing T15 at 11-under par.
“I’m excited to return to Pelican Golf Club in November to kick start my professional career by playing on the LPGA Tour where I had a lot of success in 2023,” said Kuehn. “I look forward to testing my game against the sport’s best players. Thank you to Pelican Golf Club, Gainbridge and Annika for giving me the opportunity to begin my next chapter in my professional career at one of the most prestigious events on the LPGA Tour.”
As previously announced, University of South Carolina Senior All-American Louise Rydqvist will join the field for a second consecutive year as a sponsor exemption, as a result of South Carolina capturing the 2024 ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M in September. South Carolina women’s golf coach Kalen Anderson selected Rydqvist as the recipient of the exemption for a second consecutive year. Rydqvist finished as the individual runner-up at 13-under par.
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is the penultimate event of the 2024 LPGA Tour season, where 120 of the world’s top female professional golfers will compete for a share of the $3.25 million purse, one of the largest on the LPGA Tour. The top-five players and eight of the top-10 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are entered into the championship, including World No. 1 and two-time champion Nelly Korda and No. 2 and defending champion Lilia Vu. Tickets for The ANNIKA are on sale exclusively at www.TheAnnika.com.
2024 The ANNIKA Ticket Options: There are three ticket options for fans interested in attending:
- Daily Grounds
- Wednesday, Nov. 13 (Pro-Am): $25.
- Thursday, Nov. 14: $40.
- Friday-Saturday, Nov. 15-16: $45 per day.
- Sunday, Nov. 17: $50.
- Weekly Grounds:
- Wednesday-Sunday, Nov. 13-17: $140.
- Lightning Lounge:
- Offered in partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Lightning Lounge provides a shared hospitality experience at the tournament’s signature par-3 12th hole. The Lightning Lounge includes complimentary food and beverages, TVs, private bathrooms, and parking.
- Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 14-17: $225 per day.
- Weekly (Thursday-Sunday): $800.
Announced last week, all military personnel (active, reserve, retired and veterans) and all first responders (fire, police and emergency medical service personnel) and one guest will be granted complimentary admission to the 2024 edition of the championship. Once inside the championship, military personnel will have access to a special exclusive hospitality venue – the Hero Outpost presented by FedData – overlooking the tournament’s signature par-3 12th green. First Responders will have access to the First Responders Outpost presented by SERVPRO, a special exclusive hospitality venue on the par-4 16th green. All military and first responders will receive complimentary admission to the championship and the Outposts by showing proper identification. Children 17 and under will also be admitted free with a paid adult.
Lilia Vu captured her fourth LPGA Tour win at The ANNIKA in 2023, elevating her to World No. 1 at the time. Nelly Korda is a two-time champion at The ANNIKA (2021 and 2022), with Sei Young Kim winning the inaugural event in 2020.
For more information on The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, visit www.TheAnnika.com and on social media: @TheAnnikaLPGA on X, @TheAnnikaLPGA on Instagram, and The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican on Facebook.
About The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican
The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is the LPGA’s annual tournament in the Tampa Bay region and features the world’s best female golfers competing over four rounds for a share of the $3.25 million purse, one of the largest purses on the LPGA Tour. The tournament is contested at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla., a Donald Ross design that offers world-class amenities and an unmatched golf experience. The sole namesake event on the LPGA Tour, Annika Sorenstam serves as tournament host with proceeds benefiting the ANNIKA Foundation. The championship is operated by Outlyr, a global sports, event management and lifestyle marketing agency. For more information on The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, visit www.TheAnnika.com.
About ANNIKA
In 2008, Annika stepped away from professional golf and created the ANNIKA Foundation, which currently hosts six global tournaments for junior girls with over 600 girls from 60 different countries competing annually. The Foundation also hosts the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, a premiere event on the NCAA Division I women’s golf fall schedule featuring 12 of the top DI schools in the country. New this year, a member of the winning team will earn an exemption to compete in The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
Annika, the ANNIKA Foundation and the Haskins Foundation annually recognize the NCAA Division I women’s golf player of the year via the ANNIKA Award. LSU’s Ingrid Lindblad was named the Annika Award winner for 2024.
In 2014 the LPGA, in partnership with Rolex, the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award was established to recognize the player who, during a current LPGA Tour season, has the most outstanding record in all five major championships. In 2020, Annika was elected the President of the International Golf Federation which oversees golf in the Olympic Games. In 2021, Annika became the first female golfer to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
About Gainbridge®
Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Indiana. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io or follow and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.
About Group 1001
Group 1001 is a collective that empowers companies to create positive growth. Our insurance and annuities are easy to understand and accessible to all. Our online investing platform gives individuals control over their savings. Our technology and innovation help companies succeed. And our strategic partnerships bring people together through education and sports.
As of June 30, 2024, Group 1001 had more than 1,400 employees and combined assets under management of $65.2 billion, serving more than 950,000 customers. It comprises the following brands: Delaware Life, Gainbridge®, Clear Spring Health, Clear Spring Property and Casualty Group, Clear Spring Life and Annuity Company, and RVI Group, among others.
About the LPGA
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s premier women’s professional golf organization. Created in 1950 by 13 pioneering female Founders, the LPGA, whose members now represent more than 60 countries, is the longest-standing professional women’s sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, the LPGA Professionals, and a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA provides female professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level. In addition to its professional tours and teaching accreditation programs, the LPGA features a fully integrated Foundation, which provides best-in-class programming for female golfers through its junior golf programming, and its LPGA Amateurs division, which offers its members playing and learning opportunities around the world. LPGA aims to use its unique platform to inspire, transform and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course. Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and on its mobile apps. Join the social conversation on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.
About the LPGA Tour
The LPGA Tour is the world’s leading competitive destination for the best female professional golfers in the world. The Tour hosts more than 30 annual events across 10 countries for over 200 Active Players, awarding total prize funds exceeding $125 million and reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. Follow the LPGA Tour on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel.
Media Contact:
Jeremy Friedman
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican
Outlyr
407-721-9752
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