Photo: LPGA
This week, the best women in golf are showcasing their talents in France at The Evian Resort for the Evian Championship. The event is celebrating its 25th year with 30 ANNIKA tournament members and alumnae represented in the field.
Leading the pack is Nelly Korda, who is currently ranked No. 10 in Rolex Rankings. The 2017 rookie has had an impressive season so far, securing eight top-10 finishes and a win at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. Joining her is older sister Jessica Korda who has tallied three top-10 finishes this year, including T6 at the ANA Inspiration earlier this year.
Ranked No. 13 in Rolex Rankings, Danielle Kang will also be competing this week. With four top-5 finishes this season, including a T5 finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship last month, Kang will be one to watch.
The ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel will be represented well by 2016 winner, Bronte Law, and two-time award winner, Maria Fassi. Fassi, the 2019 NCAA Champion and 2019 rookie, received an exemption into the championship for winning the ANNIKA Award. Other 2019 LPGA rookies participating are Alabama alums Kristen Gillman and Lauren Stephenson. Both players helped lead Alabama to win the 2018 ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M last September.
A few past ANNIKA Invitational Champions will also be in the mix this week, headlined by 2015 ANNIKA Invitational USA presented by Rolex champion, Angel Yin. Yin, who is T6 in Rolex ANNIKA Major Award Standings, finished T2 in the U.S. Women’s Open this year and looks to claim her first major title. Accompanying her is Charlotte Thomas, who won the inaugural ANNIKA Invitational Mission Hills, Linnea Strom, winner of the inaugural ANNIKA Invitational Europe and Celine Boutier, who claimed the 2011 ANNIKA Invitational USA title.
Two ANNIKA amateurs are in the field this week, Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland and France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard. This will be Valenzuela’s third major appearance this year with her best finish being 66th at the U.S. Women’s Open.
Other ANNIKA alumnae who will be competing this week are Aditi Ashok, Austin Ernst, Jaye Marie Green, Esther Henseleit, Megan Khang, Yu Liu, Gaby Lopez, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Yealimi Noh, Annie Park, Cindy Ha, Sarah Schmelzel, Emma Talley, Nuria Itturios, Mariah Stackhouse, Maria Torres, and Nicole Broch Larsen.
We wish the best of luck to all our former ANNIKA competitors playing this week and will be cheering everyone on!