This weekend, the best junior golfers from around the world will compete in the ANA Junior Inspiration with the winner earning an exemption into the LPGA’s first major championship of the season, the ANA Inspiration. Of the 48 players in the field, 36 are ANNIKA alumnae.
The tournament field is determined by the ANA Priority Mileage Point Standings, which are based on the Rolex AJGA Rankings. In addition, top qualifiers from ANA’s 11 North American Gateway Cities will compete.
The 54-hole tournament will take place at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., March 24-25, 2018.
The 36 ANNIKA alumnae include Amanda Linner, the reigning ANNIKA Invitational Europe champion. The Swedish native also finished in second at last year’s ANNIKA Invitational USA presented by Rolex and competed last week for Team Annika at the Major Champions Invitational. She has played in a total of six ANNIKA Invitationals since 2014.
Elizabeth Wang of San Marino, Calif. will also be competing. Wang has played in the past five ANNIKA Invitational USA events. She was also a part of Team Annika at the Major Champions Invitational.
Other ANNIKA alumnae include both 2017 and 2018 ANNIKA Invitational USA victors, Brooke Seay and Angelina Ye, respectively. Brooke, who represented the United States in the PING Jr. Solheim Cup last year, won in a playoff against Linner.
Angelina had a come from behind victory this year beating Lucy Li by two strokes. Ye made her Symetra Tour debut last week at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, an exemption she earned from winning in January. She finished tied for seventh. She is currently ranked 5th in the Rolex AJGA Rankings.
The ANNIKA Foundation will also be represented by Kynadie Adams, Amari Avery, Lauren Beaudreau, Hailey Borja, Zoe Antoinette Campos, Briana Chacon, Ya Chun Chang, Ching-Tzu Chen, Kyra Cox, Sadie Englemann, Macy Fox, Reese Guzman, Rachel Heck, Jenny Kim, Xin (Cindy) Kou, Lucy Li, Alexa Melton, Ashley Menne, Elizabeth Moon, Brianna Navarrosa, Grace Ni, Yealimi Noh, Alexa Pano, Calista Reyes, Pauline Roussin, Kanyanat Saithip, Aneka Seumanutafa, Ivy Shepherd, Yujeong Son, Kailie Vongsaga, Nicole Whiston and Rose Zhang.