BRASELTON, G.A. —The American Junior Golf Association returns to Reunion Resort in Reunion, Florida, for the ANNIKA Invitational February 13-16, 2015. Throughout its seven-year history, the girls Invitational has not only boasted some of the highest rated tournament fields on the AJGA schedule, but also in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
In 2009, Annika Sorenstam and her team at the ANNIKA Foundation joined forces with the AJGA to host a tournament that not only gives girls an opportunity to compete at a high level, but also allows them to learn from Annika. Throughout the week, participants have the opportunity to attend both the ANNIKA Clinic sponsored by Rolex and the “Winning Approach” presented by the ANNIKA Academy, seminars aimed at helping the girls prepare for future careers in college and professional golf.
WAGR ranks more than 4,100 worldwide amateur tournaments on a 52-week rolling cycle to determine which events have the strongest fields. Rankings are calculated based on the WAGR rankings of competitors in each event’s starting field.
Based on the strength of the 2013 and 2014 ANNIKA Invitational fields, the tournaments received Category A recognition in the WAGR Women’s Events rankings. To receive Category A recognition, a tournament must be ranked between Nos. 1 and 50 during any given week in a 52-week rolling cycle. Only five of the 50 events classified as Category A during 2014 were junior tournaments.
In addition to the ANNIKA Invitational, two other AJGA tournaments, the Polo Golf Junior Classic and Thunderbird International Junior, earned Category A recognition, as well as the Internationaux de France Juniors Filles-Trophee Esmond and the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. Before earning Category A status in 2013, the ANNIKA Invitational was a Category B event from 2010-12, for ranking between Nos. 51-150 during the 52-week rolling cycle.
Ten members of the 2015 ANNIKA Invitational field are ranked in the Top 100 of the Women’s WAGR. The Women’s WAGR ranks more than 2,900 female amateur golfers based on their performance. Top-100 competitors include Lauren Stephenson (23) of Lexington, South Carolina, Mika Liu (30) of Beverly Hills, California, Angel Yin (32) of Arcadia, California, Mariel Galdiano (33) of Pearl City, Hawaii, Megan Khang (34) of Rockland, Massachusetts, Princess Superal (36) of Dasmarinas City, Philippines, Alice Jo (65) of Shanghai, China, Nelly Korda (69) of Bradenton, Florida, Robynn Ree (76) of Redondo Beach, California, and Marion Veysseyre (81) of La Chapelle Auzac, France.
Celine Boutier of Montrouge, France, won the ANNIKA Invitational in 2010 and is currently No. 1 in the WAGR Women’s rankings. Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar, California, joins Boutier in the WAGR Women’s top 10 at No. 6 after posting back-to-back ANNIKA Invitational wins in 2013 and 2014.
The 2015 ANNIKA Invitational kicks off February 13, 2015, with a practice round and Callaway Golf Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament. Tournament rounds run from 8-9:50 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10 tees Feb. 14-16, on the Watson Course at Reunion Resort.