Annika Sorenstam and the American Junior Golf Association are
combining efforts to create The ANNIKA Invitational, an invitation-only
event featuring the top 60 girls from around the world, the AJGA announced
Tuesday. Held at Ginn Reunion Resort on the Independence (Watson) Course,
the event will take place Jan. 16-19, 2009.
Sorenstam
will be involved in the tournament in every way, including conducting
clinics and educational activities for the participants.
Rolex Watch USA, a longtime supporter of both Sorenstam and the AJGA, the LPGA and Callaway will be tournament partners.
The event will be hosted by The ANNIKA Foundation. The ANNIKA Foundation is dedicated to providing inspirational experiences, and educational and financial resources that will help children in need to realize their full potential. The Foundation will create and partner with programs that teach the importance of living a healthy active lifestyle through nutrition and physical fitness and offer experiences and opportunities that enable aspiring junior golfers to pursue their dreams
Proceeds from the event will be used to endow an Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant in Sorenstam’s name. The ACE Grant program was created by the AJGA in 2003 to ensure competitive golf opportunities were available to all young golfers regardless of their financial resources. Since the program’s inception, the AJGA has awarded 255 ACE Grants to 170 juniors totaling nearly $937,000.
The tournament field will be selected using the Polo Golf Rankings along with select international invitees to be determined.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be hosting this AJGA event,” said Sorenstam. “My intention has always been to help give back to the game of golf that has given me so much. By providing these juniors a chance to learn about competition, health and nutrition and the camaraderie in golf, we are truly seeing the mission of the ANNIKA Foundation come to life.”





