(ORLANDO, Fla.) – The ANNIKA Foundation – golf Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam’s charitable organization – will host the ANNIKA Invitational Europe, June 12-15, at Halmstad Golf Club in Halmstad, Sweden.
The tournament’s 11th edition will include 78 of the best female European golfers, between the ages of 13 to 18, representing 16 different countries. All girls will compete in a 54-hole, stroke play format for coveted World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points. The top-3 finishers will receive an exemption into the 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex. Halmstad is the Golf Capital of Sweden and Halmstad Golf Club is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in Sweden.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to Halmstad Golf Club for the 11th edition of the ANNIKA Invitational Europe and ANNIKA Cup,” says Annika. “After hosting the ANNIKA Invitational Europe at Halmstad Golf Club in 2017 and the Scandinavian Mixed last year, I know the players and their families are in for a special week.”
Top ranked player Denisa Vodickova (Czech Republic) highlights an impressive field, including 36 ANNIKA alumnae, led by four-time ANNIKA event competitor Matilda Björkman of Sweden, and 11 past ANNIKA Cup participants. Top competitors also include Anna Cañado Espinal (Spain), Sofie Hlinomazová (Czech Republic), Josefin Widal (Sweden), Olivia Costello (Ireland), Perla Sól Sigurbrandsdóttir (Iceland), Johanna Axelsen (Denmark), Balma Dávalos Guaita (Spain), and Matylda Krawczynska (Poland).
Past ANNIKA Invitational Europe winners include Francesca Fiorellini (2022, Italy), Meja Ortengren (2021, Sweden), Lily May Humphreys (2019, England), Anna Zanusso (2018, Italy), Amanda Linnér (2017, Sweden), Beatrice Wallin (2016, Sweden), Ana Pelaez (2015, Spain), Marion Veysseyre (2014, France), Malene Krolboll Hansen (2013, Denmark), and Linnea Strom (2012, Sweden).
Accompanying the ANNIKA Invitational Europe’s 54 holes of stroke play golf will be a clinic from Annika, a gala dinner and an inspirational seminar led by industry leaders covering college life and networking. The seminar will close out with an interactive More Than Golf activity.
“Now, to see so many of our ANNIKA alumnae living out their dreams and playing tournament golf on the world’s biggest stages is such a thrill for me and a powerful reminder of the impact we’re making with our Foundation,” adds Annika.
The ANNIKA Foundation will also be hosting the ANNIKA Cup (June 11-13) which is a team competition featuring 12 of Sweden’s top girls ages 13-15. The tournament was founded in 2008 and was the Foundation’s first junior tournament.
The ANNIKA Foundation is devoted to growing the game of golf around the world. It hosts six girls-only invitational tournaments: the Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex (United States), 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.