More Than 70 of the World’s Best Female Junior Golfers Will Vie for the Title and a Spot in the Celebrity Division at the LPGA’s Season-Opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions
(ORLANDO, Fla.) – The ANNIKA Foundation – golf Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam’s charitable organization – will kick off its 2022 tournament schedule with the Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex, January 15-18.
The tournament has not only added a new title sponsor – Hilton Grand Vacations – but will move to a new home for its 14th edition, Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. In addition to receiving coveted points toward the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and Rolex AJGA Rankings, players will also compete for a spot in the Insurance Office of America Pro-Am at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions with the opportunity to qualify to advance into the amateur field of the tournament.
“We can’t wait to welcome competitors as we begin our 14th season of hosting golf tournaments for the world’s greatest girls,” says Annika. “It’s so rewarding to see how these events have grown in stature over the years; we’re honored to now partner with Hilton Grand Vacations as primary title sponsor, and Eagle Creek should prove to be an exceptional new test for these players.”
Fourteen-year-old Avery Zweig of McKinney, Texas will return to defend her title against a field of girls ages 12 to 19 representing six countries. Her challengers for the title are scheduled to include top-ranked players like 2021 ANNIKA Invitational Europe and 2021 Rolex Tournament of Champions winner, Meja Ortengren from Sweden, and Women’s Amateur Latin America presented by The R&A and ANNIKA Foundation champion, Maria Jose Marin Negrete from Colombia.
Host course Eagle Creek is a par-73 layout that was designed by world-renowned architects Ron Garl and Howard Swan. Designated an “Audubon International Silver Signature” course thanks to its focus on sustainability, it is the first course in Florida to use the state-of-the-art Mini Verde strain of grass on its fast and vibrant putting surfaces.
The ANNIKA Foundation is devoted to growing the game of golf around the world. In addition to the Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex, it hosts five other girls-only invitational tournaments: the ANNIKA Invitational Europe and ANNIKA Cup (Sweden), ANNIKA Invitational Mission Hills (China), ANNIKA Invitational Australasia (New Zealand) and the Women’s Amateur Latin America Championship presented by The R&A and ANNIKA Foundation (Argentina). They are complemented by the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, a 12-team college tournament, and the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel, which is annually bestowed to the most outstanding female NCAA Division I golfer.
Since the inaugural Foundation tournament – the 2009 ANNIKA Invitational USA – 87 ANNIKA event alumnae have earned LPGA cards. Thirty-seven alumnae competed in the 2021 ANA Inspiration including the winner, Patty Tavatanakit.