South Carolina Captured The ANNIKA Intercollegiate by 27 Strokes with Rydqvist Finishing Runner-up at -13; Head Coach Kalen Anderson Selected Rydqvist for Return
Tampa Bay’s Annual LPGA Tour Event, The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican to Take Place at Nov. 11-17 at Pelican Golf Club
BELLEAIR, Fla., Sept. 24, 2024 – University of South Carolina Senior All-American Louise Rydqvist will be competing against the world’s best professional golfers when she tees it up as a sponsor exemption for a second consecutive year at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, taking place Nov. 11-17 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla.
At the 2024 ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, which concluded earlier this month in Minnesota, a sponsor exemption to The ANNIKA was on the line to a player from this year’s winning team. South Carolina captured the championship in dominating fashion at a combined 31-under par and winning by 27 strokes. 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.
Rydqvist, a native of Sweden, enrolled at South Carolina in 2022 as a sophomore, earning All-American honors her sophomore and junior years. Entering her senior year at South Carolina, she is a pre-season All-American and currently the 13th ranked amateur in the world. She won the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship in July by three shots, earning an exemption into the AIG Women’s Open at St. Andrews, where she finished T60.
“I’m so happy and proud to accept this exemption to The ANNIKA and go back to Pelican Golf Club for a second year in a row,” said Rydqvist. “To play another LPGA Tour event is going to be absolutely amazing and I’m super excited.”
“We are very excited to have Louise back at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican,” said Annika. “She is one of the best amateurs in the world and I’ve enjoyed seeing her hard work pay off. She is from Sweden and played our Annika Cup and Annika Invitational Europe as a junior and has won our college event. For her to play in our LPGA event for a second straight year is very special.”
“I am very honored for Louise to represent the University of South Carolina at The ANNIKA for a second consecutive year,” said Anderson. “It’s quite fitting that both the team’s victory and the team’s unanimous decision has enabled Louise to receive this exemption. Louise is extremely deserving of this honor, and she will be an exceptional competitor both on and off the course. The Gamecock women’s golf program and Louise are incredibly appreciative for this special opportunity.”
The ANNIKA, Tampa Bay’s annual LPGA Tour event and the penultimate event on the 2024 LPGA Tour schedule, is hosted by World Golf and LPGA Hall-of-Fame member Annika Sorenstam, taking place Nov. 11-17 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla. The tournament will offer a $3.25 million purse – one of the largest outside the major championships – with proceeds from the tournament benefiting the ANNIKA Foundation.
Lilia Vu captured her fourth LPGA Tour win at The ANNIKA in 2023, elevating her to then World No. 1. 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 (formerly Twitter), @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 on the LPGA Tour outside of major championships and the season-ending event. 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. Stanford’s Rose Zhang was named the back-to-back Annika Award winner for 2023.
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
jfriedman@outlyr.com
Taylor Britton
ANNIKA Foundation
732-284-9950
taylorb@annikafoundation.org
