This is a very exciting week; the ANNIKA Foundation is kicking off the fourth annual ANNIKA Invitational on Friday at Reunion Resort! The ANNIKA Invitational is an award-winning tournament on the AJGA circuit that gives the top female golfers from around the world the opportunity to compete against each other, while also participating in activities with me off the course. Two of the three previous champions, Simin Feng and Celine Boutier, are returning this year to try to re-claim their title; I'm looking forward to seeing them again! Victoria Tanco, the 2010 Champion and two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year earned her LPGA Tour card at the 2011 Q-School. We will miss Victoria this year but wish her the best of luck in her professional career!
Through the ANNIKA Invitational, my Foundation has endowed a $100,000 AJGA ACE Grant, which affords juniors the chance to play who may not otherwise be able. Additional proceeds from the event go toward implementing the SPARK Physical Education program into Florida elementary schools. This research-based, quality PE program helps kids stay active and fit, which is so very important as one-third of kids today are overweight or obese.
The Invitational will begin with the Callaway Golf Junior-Am on Friday and that night, I'm very excited get to know the girls better when I host them at a Welcome dinner. I won't keep them out too late because the first round of the tournament will begin on Saturday morning and that afternoon, I am hosting a golf clinic sponsored by Rolex at the ANNIKA Academy. Hopefully they will learn something and will be able to put it good use the rest of the weekend!
A highlight of the Invitational for me is the Florida Hospital Healthy 100 Celebration, which will take place after Round Two of the tournament on Sunday. The girls will go through media training and lessons on the importance of proper skin care while in the sun all day, fitness and nutrition. This is a unique element of the tournament that allows the girls to get a better understanding of what it's like to play collegiate and professional golf. It's not just about what happens on the course; there is so much more and I love being able to show that to them.
The tournament concludes on Monday. Please join me in wishing all of the participants good luck (not that they need it!)!
Stay tuned to the blog and twitter for updates throughout the weekend.
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Wonderful event and I wish everyone involved the best of success. I'm wondering what are the odds of an ANNIKA Invitational coming to the LPGA before the 2016 Olympics?
Posted by: Bruce Simon | January 11, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Good Luck to all the girls!
Posted by: golf4HIM:) | January 11, 2012 at 04:02 PM