2009 AJGA Newcomer of the Year
2010 AJGA Invitational of the Year
2011 AJGA Media Award
The ANNIKA Foundation has partnered with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) to create an invitational golf tournament for the top female U.S. and international junior golfers. The tournament provides the opportunity for top players to compete against world class competition. Participants also experience the “off-course” elements of playing collegiate and professional golf, including media training and the importance of health and nutrition. A portion of the proceeds from the event support the AJGA’s ACE Grant Program, which provides golf opportunities to young players, regardless of financial ability.
2013 Winner Bethany Wu and Annika
Round 1 Recap
REUNION, Fla. — Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar, Calif., seized the first-round lead with a 4-under-par 68 Saturday at the ANNIKA Invitational. In a three-way tie for second, Cheyenne Knight of Aledo, Texas, Karen Chung of Livingston, N.J., and Denmark’s Emily Pedersen sit two shots off the lead at 2-under-par 70 heading into the second round at Reunion Resort. More
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the ANNIKA Invitational is a 54-hole stroke play competition featuring 73 girls, ages 12-18, from 11 foreign countries, 17 states and Puerto Rico. The par-72 Independence (Watson) Course at Reunion Resort is playing 6,347 yards.
Wu, 16, carded five birdies on her way to matching 2-under-par 34s on the front and back nine. Strong iron play helped Wu find greens, highlighted by an approach on No. 11 where she stuck it next to the hole from 150 yards out.
“The wind played in, it was kind of difficult,” Wu said. “My putting was really good and my irons were also good today.”
A two-time AJGA champion, Wu finished tied for eighth with a 6-over-par 222 at the 2012 ANNIKA Invitational, where eventual champion Alison Lee was the only player to shoot under par all three rounds.
“I just want to keep playing the same and try and do what Alison did last year,” said Wu, who recorded five straight top 10s in 2012. “I just want to be in that position.”
Cheyenne Knight of Aledo, Texas, got off to an early lead with a 2-under-par 34 on the front nine.
“Today I really focused on hitting a lot of greens to get birdie opportunities,” said Knight, who is tied for second with Chung and Pedersen. “My goal was to hit 18 fairways and 18 greens.”
The tournament opened Friday with a welcome dinner hosted by tournament chair Annika. Her inspiration was present on the course, as a crowded leaderboard closed with 12 players at even par or better, including Linnea Ström (71), who won the ANNIKA Invitational in Europe in August.
“I liked that [Annika] said to just go out and have fun and don’t worry too much about the game,” Ström said. “I really tried to do that today.”
Round 1 Video Recap – http://vimeo.com/57784672
Round 2 Recap
REUNION, Fla. — Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar, Calif., held onto the lead with a second-round 1-under-par 71 for a two-day total of five-under-par 139. Wu sits two strokes ahead of Amy Lee of Brea, Calif., and Denmark’s Emily Pedersen, who share second at 3-under-par 141. More
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the ANNIKA Invitational is a 54-hole stroke play competition featuring 73 girls, ages 12-18, from 11 foreign countries, 17 states and Puerto Rico. The par-72 Independence (Watson) Course at Reunion Resort is playing 6,347 yards.
Wu, who is making her third straight appearance at the ANNIKA Invitational, achieved her goal of staying under par. She finished the round with a birdie on the par-4 18th.
“I feel more confident on this course because I’m used to it now,” said Wu, who has verbally committed to UCLA. “Tomorrow I want to stay calm and keep on hitting greens and make my putts.”
Lee, a two-time AJGA champion, started off strong with birdies on Nos. 1 and 2, and closed the round with a birdie on No. 18, her fifth of the day, for a 3-under-par 69 and share of second. The 15-year-old is battling back from a wrist injury which kept her off the golf course for two months.
“I’ve been pretty confident about my putting,” said Lee, a three-time Rolex Junior All-American. “What changed is I don’t really think as much; I just look at my line, keep to it and push it in.”
Pedersen carded a 1-under-par 71 after hitting 17 greens in regulation. The 16-year-old from Denmark recently tied for fourth at the Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship in December.
“Many of my friends played here before and told me how amazing it was and it truly is,” said Pedersen, a member of the 2012 Europe Junior Ryder Cup team. “It’s so good to meet Annika and to hear Annika and then to play an amazing course and play against a lot of good girls.”
Five girls sit in a tie for fourth at 2-under-par 142: Yu Liu of Beijing, China; Linnea Ström of Sweden; Karen Chung of Livingston, N.J.; former ANNIKA Invitational champion Simin Feng of China; and Samantha Wagner of Windermere, Fla.
Wagner, who started the day at T13, moved up the leaderboard after an eagle on the 397-par 4 No. 4 from 175 yards out. She finished the round with a 3-under-par 69.
“I hit a 4-hybrid and I hit it great, I actually thought it was really short,” Wagner said. “I heard it just hit the flag and it stayed in the hole. It just went straight in.”
Round 2 Video Recap - http://vimeo.com/57830469
Round 3 Recap
REUNION, Fla. — Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar, Calif., closed with a 5-under-par 67 to win wire-to-wire at the ANNIKA Invitational, setting a tournament record of 10-under-par 206. In a tie for second, Karen Chung of Livingston, N.J., and Emily Pedersen of Denmark finished three strokes back at 7-under-par 209 at Reunion Resort. More
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the ANNIKA Invitational was a 54-hole stroke play competition featuring 73 girls, ages 12-18, from 11 foreign countries, 17 states and Puerto Rico. The par-72 Independence (Watson) Course at Reunion Resort was played at 6,347 yards.
Wu, 16, never relinquished her lead, opening the round with birdies on Nos. 1 and 3. She totaled five birdies for the day against no bogeys. Her round was highlighted by a 15-foot putt for birdie on the par-4 16th, which pushed her lead to 3 with two to play.
“Today I played aggressive,” said Wu on her first Invitational victory. “This win builds my confidence for future Invitationals.”
After finishing T8 at the 2012 ANNIKA Invitational, Wu was determined to return for a victory at Reunion.
“Last year, I thought, ‘I want to be that person making the winning putt,’” Wu said. “It happened today, so I’m happy.”
Wu, who has verbally committed to UCLA, earned her second AJGA career victory in July 2012 at the AJGA Junior at Centennial and went on to earn four consecutive top 10s.
Chung, 17, began the round tied for fourth, and finished T2 behind the strength of seven birdies in a final-round 67. She fired consecutive birdies on Nos. 14, 15, and 16 and closed the tournament with a birdie on the 18th. The second-place finish comes after battling a knee injury.
“This was a good comeback for me,” said Chung, the 2011 Thunderbird International Junior champion. “I’m happy with my finish and I’m really happy for Bethany.”
Denmark’s Pedersen, 16, finished with a 4-under-par 68 in her AJGA debut. She credited her round to strong iron play, and closed with birdies on Nos. 17 and 18.
“It’s nice to play against the best girls in America,” said Pedersen, the 2012 champion of the Doral / Publix Junior Golf Classic. “It gives me such confidence that I can play on top all week and that I shot three rounds under par.”
Yu Liu of Beijing, China, finished fourth at 5-under-par 211, while Ruixin Liu of Kissimmee, Fla., Linnea Strom of Sweden and Simin Feng of Windermere, Fla., tied for fifth at 3-under-par 213.
Round 3 Video Recap – http://vimeo.com/57925768
Results
|
1 |
Bethany Wu |
2015 |
Diamond Bar, Calif. | 68-71-67–206 |
|
T2 |
Emily Pedersen |
2016 |
Smoerum, Denmark | 70-71-68–209 |
|
2 |
Karen Chung |
2013 |
Livingston, N.J. | 70-72-67–209 |
|
4 |
Yu Liu |
2013 |
Beijing, China | 73-69-69–211 |
|
T5 |
Linnea Strom |
2015 |
Hovas, Sweden | 71-71-71–213 |
|
5 |
Simin Feng |
2013 |
Windermere, Fla. | 72-70-71–213 |
|
5 |
Ruixin Liu |
2017 |
Kissimmee, Fla. | 74-70-69–213 |
|
T8 |
Mai Dechathipat |
2015 |
(Thailand) Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. | 73-75-66–214 |
|
8 |
Samantha Wagner |
2015 |
Windermere, Fla. | 73-69-72–214 |
|
8 |
Amy Lee |
2015 |
Brea, Calif. | 72-69-73–214 |
Annika and 2012 champion Alison Lee
DAY 1 RECAP
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DAY 2 RECAP
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DAY 3 RECAP
2012 Results
1. Alison Lee 71-71-71–213 (-3)
2. Shannon Aubert 72-75-70–217 (+1)
T3. Ashlan Ramsey 75-76-68–219 (+3)
T3. Simin Feng 76-74-69–219 (+3)
T3. Andrea Lee 76-73-70–219 (+3)
6. Hee Wook Choi 73-70-77–220 (+4)
7. Kuriko Tsukiyama 74-71-76–221 (+5)
T8. Sammi Lee 73-75-74–222 (+6)
T8. Céline Boutier 78-72-72–222 (+6)
T8. Casey Danielson 76-76-70–222 (+6)
T8. Bethany Wu 79-73-70–222 (+6)
T8. Sierra Sims 81-67-74–222 (+6)
T8. Kaitlin Park 73-75-74–222 (+6)
Annika and 2011 champion Céline Boutier
DAY 1 RECAP
Marijosse Navarro is a three-time AJGA champion and is in pursuit of her first Invitational victory. Making her second ANNIKA Invitational appearance, she feels more comfortable with the course and was able to settle into a round that included five birdies.
“I started with a birdie on No. 1, but then made a bogey on No. 2 so I was back to even par,” Navarro said. “I made the turn at 1-under after a birdie on No. 6 and then was able to get very comfortable with the putting greens on the back, making three more birdies.”
Ranked No. 19 in the Polo Golf Rankings, Navarro will look to hold the lead over an experienced field. Five players sit one shot back while seven competitors are just two strokes shy of the lead heading into Sunday’s second round.
Casey Danielson, 15, of Osceola, Wis., Samantha Marks, 16, of Maitland, Fla., Rachel Dai, 13, of Suwanee, Ga., Gyeol Park, 15, of Shatto, Calif., and Ohio State commit Kendall Prince, 17, of Lake Oswego, Ore., all sit tied for second place after posting 2-under-par 70s.
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DAY 2 RECAP
Céline Boutier began the day in a tie for seventh, but made her move quickly with a birdie on the par-3 third hole. She gave the stroke back after a bogey on the fourth, and that would prove to be the only blemish on her second-round scorecard.
“My putting was really good today,” Boutier said. “I didn’t count them, but it just always felt like it went in the hole.”
She is followed by Torres, who sits at a two-day total of 3-under-par 141. In a tie for third is Doris Chen of Bradenton, Fla., and Kendall Prince each having recorded a 2-under-par 142. Three players are in a deadlock in fifth at even-par 144: Shannon Aubert of Reunion, Fla., Aurora Kan of Boothwyn, Pa., and first-round leader Marijosse Navarro of San Antonio, Texas.
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DAY 3 RECAP
Céline Boutier of Montrouge, France, walked away from the 2011 ANNIKA Invitational with her first U.S. win in only her second AJGA tournament. Boutier’s second-round 66 proved to be paramount in securing the victory.
“There was a lot of pressure playing in the U.S. against golfers I’ve never competed with before,” Boutier said. “It feels good to win and be here with Annika.”
Doris Chen of Bradenton, Fla., came within two shots but would get no closer, finishing alone in second place with a 1-under-par 215 tournament total. Alison Lee of Valencia, Calif., and Aurora Kan of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, shared a tie for second after posting even-par 216s, while Lake Oswego, Oregon resident Kendall Prince rounded out the top five with a tournament total of 1-over-par 217.
2011 Results
1. Céline Boutier 71-66-76–213 (-3)
2. Doris Chen 72-70-73–215 (-1)
T3. Alison Lee 72-74-70–216 (E)
T3. Aurora Kan 71-73-72–216 (E)
5. Kendall Prince 70-72-75–217 (+1)
T6. Casey Danielson 70-77-71–218 (+2)
T6. Shannon Aubert 74-70-74–218 (+2)
T8. Ashlan Ramsey 72-76-71–219 (+3)
Annika and 2010 champion Victoria Tanco
DAY 1 RECAP
Laetitia Beck of Caesarea, Israel, fired a 4-under-par 68 in windy conditions to hold the top spot on the leaderboard after the first round of the second-annual ANNIKA Invitational. Doris Chen of Bradenton, Fla., sits one shot back after recording a 3-under-par 69 on the Independence (Watson) Course at Reunion Resort.
“Every tournament is special,” Beck said. “I’m trying to win every single time I’m there. I don’t try to put pressure on myself, I know it’s a big event, there are a lot of girls and Annika, but I’m just trying to play my game and trying to win.”
No. 10 in the Polo Golf Rankings, Chen had strong iron play during the round and said focusing on course management helped her score low despite the cold weather. Chen’s plan is to play consistent in the second round to remain near the top of an event she’s excited about.
Shannon Aubert of Orlando, Fla., holds the third spot at 1-under-par 71. Suzie Lee of East Northport, N.Y., Tiffany Lim of San Jose, Calif., and Victoria Tanco of Bradenton, Fla., each posted a 1-over-par 73 to sit tied for fourth.
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DAY 2 RECAP
Laetitia Beck and Victoria Tanco share the second-round lead of the ANNIKA Invitational after their impressive play Sunday. Beck, who led after the first round, shot 1-under-par, while Tanco fired a 6-under-par 66 to jump from a tie for fourth to a tie for the lead at Reunion Resort.
“My iron shots were really good today,” Beck said. “I played a really solid round throughout the day.”
Tanco, a two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year, was in fourth when the day began. After a 1-over-par showing in the first round, she carded five birdies to only one bogey on the front nine. Making the turn, she had a two-stroke deficit, but steady play on the back nine would prove to be key. After seven straight pars, Tanco birdied Nos. 17 and 18 to clinch a share of the lead.
In a three-way tie for third is Karen Chung, Tiffany Lim, and Kristen Park, each with a two-day total of 1-over-par 145. Alone in sixth is defending champion Simin Feng with a 2-over-par 146.
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DAY 3 RECAP
Victoria Tanco pulled away from the field on the back nine of Reunion Resort’s Independence Course to claim the title at the ANNIKA Invitational with a tournament-total 5-under-par 211. Laetitia Beck, the co-leader at the start of the round, posted a 2-under-par 214 to finish in second place.
After firing a 6-under-par 66 in the second round for a share of the lead, Tanco continued her strong play and birdied No. 1. Playing conservatively for the remainder of the round, Tanco recorded 12 pars on the day. Both girls made the turn tied at even, but Tanco separated herself after Beck made bogey on Nos. 10, 11 and 12. She took control of the tournament with a three-shot lead on No. 13, and ended the day at even-par 72. With her first win of the year, the two-time Rolex Junior Player of the Year is well on her way to filling her 2010 goals.
“It means a lot because it’s such an honor to have Annika sponsoring this tournament,” Tanco said. “I’m very happy, I played really well and it feels good to win another invitational.”
Finishing in third place with an even-par 216 was Karen Chung. Jessica Korda claimed the fourth spot with a 2-over-par 218. Tied in fifth place were Tiffany Lim and Ashlan Ramsey, each with a 5-over-par 221.
2010 Results
1. Victoria Tanco 73-66-72–211 (-5)
2. Latitia Beck 68-71-75–214 (-2)
3. Karen Chung 75-70-71–216 (E)
4. Jessica Korda 77-72-69–218 (+2)
T5. Ashlan Ramsey 77-71-73–221 (+5)
T5. Tiffany Lim 73-72-76–221 (+5)
T7. Kelli Oride 76-72-74–222 (+6)
T7. Jaye Marie Green 76-72-74–222 (+6)
T7. Simin Feng 76-72-74–222 (+6)
T7. Kristen Park 76-72-74–222 (+6)
Annika and 2009 champion Simin Feng
DAY 1 RECAP
In just her second event after knee surgery, Sally Watson of Edinburgh, Scotland, staved off cool conditions and some competitive rust to card a 2-under-par 70, the day’s only sub-par round, in Saturday’s first round at the inaugural ANNIKA Invitational. Three players sit two shots back at even-par 72 entering the second round at Ginn Reunion Resort’s Independence (Watson) Course.”I really had no expectations coming here after not playing tournaments for so long,” said Watson, who had the ACL in her right knee reconstructed in June 2008. “I wanted to give myself as many tap-in pars as possible and just get comfortable competing again.”
Watson said she played more aggressive after a conservative 36 on the front nine, and it paid off with birdies on Nos. 10, 13, 14 and 15. She closed with bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17, but a par on No. 18 secured her two-shot cushion heading into Sunday’s second round.
Yueer Cindy Feng of Orlando, Fla., was the final alternate that made the field and is playing in her first AJGA Invitational. She carded six birdies en route to an opening-round 72. Also in second place are Rachel Rohanna of Waynesburg, Pa., who has signed a National Letter of Intent with Ohio State, and 13-year-old and two-time AJGA winner Simin Feng of Orlando, Fla.
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DAY 2 RECAP
Twelve-year-old Cindy Feng carded a 2-over-par 74 to move into the lead after Sunday’s second round of the inaugural ANNIKA Invitational at Ginn Reunion Resort’s Independence (Watson) Course.
“I was really excited that I was able to play in an Invitational,” she said, adding that it was an especially great honor that it is also Annika’s first AJGA Invitational.
Feng began the day two strokes off the lead, but quickly erased that deficit by making birdie on the first two holes. After that, it was a battle for the lead through the rest of the day. Feng appeared to take a commanding lead when she made a 40-foot birdie putt at No. 11.
Simin Feng enters the final round one shot off the lead at 72-75—147, while Laetitia Beck of Caesarea, Israel, sits just two off the pace at 75-73—148.
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DAY 3 RECAP
Simin Feng, 13, dueled hefty wind conditions and stiff competition at Ginn Reunion Resort’s Watson Course to claim the inaugural ANNIKA Invitational. Sarah Brown of Phillipsburg, N.J., and Luz Alejandra Cangrejo of Bogota, Colombia, ended the day one stroke behind and tied for second.
Trailing by one shot heading into final-round play, Feng flip-flopped the lead with first-round leader Cindy Feng. Shooting a final round of 1-over-par 73, Simin carded two birdies en route to victory. After Cindy Feng double-bogeyed No. 5, Simin said her confidence grew.
“It means a lot to win this tournament,” Simin said. “Annika is going to hand me the trophy and she has accomplished so much. It’s such an honor.”
Tied for second were Brown and Cangrejo with three-day totals of 5-over-par 221. Tied for fourth, with three-day totals of 6-over-par 222, were Cindy Feng and Beck.
2009 Results
1. Simin Feng 72-75-73–220 (+2)
T2. Sarah Brown 77-72-72–221 (+3)
T2. Luz Alejandra Cangrejo 77-72-72–221 (+3)
T4. Yueer Cindy Feng 72-74-76–222 (+4)
T4. Laetitia Beck 72-74-76–222 (+4)
T6. Victoria Tanco 78-75-71–224 (+6)
T6. Jessica Korda 78-75-71–224 (+6)
T6. Danielle Kang 78-75-71–224 (+6)
T6. Rachel Rohanna 78-75-71–224 (+6)
T6. Alexandra Stewart 78-75-71–224 (+6)
