BELLEAIR, Fla., Oct. 12, 2023 – World No. 1 Lilia Vu, two-time defending champion and Bradenton resident Nelly Korda, and major champions Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko, Danielle Kang and Lexi Thompson headline a stacked field of early commitments for the 2023 ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. The penultimate event of the 2023 LPGA Tour season, The ANNIKA will take place Nov. 6-12 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla, where the world’s top professional golfers will compete for a share of the elevated $3.25 million purse, the largest outside of major championships and the CME Group Tour Championship.
“We are honored to attract the best players in the game to Tampa Bay for The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican,” said Annika. “I look forward to welcoming all of the players and Tampa Bay’s passionate sports fanbase to Pelican Golf Club in November in what will be an amazing week.”
“We look forward to hosting the greatest professional golfers in the world at Pelican Golf Club and providing a best-in-class experience for players and fans alike,” said Dan Doyle Jr., owner of Pelican Golf Club and tournament owner. “It is an honor for us to host this great championship and provide a platform for the LPGA Tour to showcase their talents on the golf course to fans all over the world.”
Eight of the top-10 and 16 of the top-20 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are early entries into The ANNIKA, including Lilia Vu (1), Ruoning Yin (2), Jin Young Ko (3), Nelly Korda (4) Celine Boutier (5) Minjee Lee (7), Charley Hull (8), Allisen Corpuz (10), Brooke Henderson (11), Lydia Ko (12), Atthaya Thitikul (13), Megan Khang (14), Linn Grant (15), Georgia Hall (18), Leona Maguire (19) and Ashleigh Buhai (20).
As previously announced, University of South Carolina Junior All-American Louise Rydqvist will join the field at The ANNIKA as a tournament sponsor exemption. Rydqvist captured her first collegiate victory in September at The ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, helping South Carolina to their first team victory of the season. South Carolina’s women’s golf coach
Kalen Anderson selected Rydqvist as the recipient of the exemption, which went to a member of the winning team.
As the final regular season event on the LPGA Tour prior to its season-finale the following week, The ANNIKA field also features 16 of the top-20 players in the current Race to the CME Globe season-long points standings. The top-60 players following the conclusion of The ANNIKA will qualify for the final event of the LPGA Tour season.
Tournament officials will be announcing in the coming weeks special ancillary events taking place throughout the week at The ANNIKA, including additional sponsor exemptions and additional field commitments. For a complete list of tournament entries, click HERE.
Tickets are on sale for The ANNIKA, including exclusive hospitality and general admissions tickets offering a wide degree of entertainment and access. Tickets are available for purchase exclusively at www.TheAnnika.com. All 2023 tickets will be digital and will be emailed after
purchase. Tickets can be viewed on either a mobile device or printed out where they will be scanned at the main gate.
2023 The ANNIKA Ticket Options: There are three ticket options for fans interested in attending:
• Daily Grounds:
- Wednesday, Nov. 8 (Pro-Am): $25.
- Thursday, Nov. 9: $40.
- Friday-Saturday, Nov. 10-11: $45 per day.
- Sunday, Nov. 12: $50.
• Weekly Grounds:
- Wednesday-Sunday, Nov. 8-12: $140.
• Lightning Lounge:
- Offered in partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Lightning Lounge provides a shared-hospitality experience at the tournament’s signature par-3 12th hole. The Lightning Lounge includes complimentary food and beverages, TV’s, private bathrooms and parking.
- Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 9-12: $225 per day.
- Weekly (Thursday-Sunday): $800.
All military (active, reserve, retired and veterans) plus one will receive complimentary admission by showing proper identification at Admissions in exchange for a daily grounds pass. Military and their plus one also will have access to the Hero Outpost, an exclusive covered viewing deck on the par-3 12th hole with complimentary snacks and beverages. Children 17-and-under will be admitted free with a paid adult.
Nelly Korda is the two-time defending champion of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican (formerly the Pelican Women’s Championship). She defeated Lexi Thompson by one stroke at 14-under par, solidifying her comeback in 2022 after missing four months early in the year due to injury. The win also elevated Korda back to World No. 1. In 2021, Korda defeated Thompson, Lydia Ko and 2020 champion Sei Young Kim via a one-hole playoff. The Pelican Women’s Championship made its debut in 2020, with Kim capturing the inaugural title.
For more information on The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, visit www.TheAnnika.com and on social media: @TheAnnikaLPGA on Twitter, @TheAnnikaLPGA on Instagram and The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican on Facebook.
About The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican
The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is the LPGA’s annual tournament in the Tampa Bay region and features the world’s best female golfers competing over four rounds for a share of the $3.25 million purse, the largest purse on the LPGA Tour outside of major championships and the season-ending event. The tournament is contested at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla., a
Donald Ross original design and Beau Welling redesign that offers world-class amenities and an unmatched golf experience. The sole namesake event on the LPGA Tour, Annika Sorenstam serves as tournament host with proceeds benefiting the ANNIKA Foundation. The championship is operated by Outlyr, a global sports, event management and lifestyle marketing agency. For more information on The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, visit www.TheAnnika.com.
About ANNIKA
In 2008, Annika stepped away from professional golf and created the ANNIKA Foundation, which currently hosts six global tournaments for junior girls with over 600 girls from 60 different countries competing annually. The Foundation also hosts the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, a premiere event on the NCAA Division I women’s golf fall schedule featuring 12 of the top DI schools in the country. New this year, a member of the winning team will earn an exemption to compete in The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
Annika, the ANNIKA Foundation and the Haskins Foundation annually recognize the NCAA Division I women’s golf player of the year via the ANNIKA Award. Stanford’s Rose Zhang was named the back-to-back Annika Award winner for 2023.
In 2014 the LPGA, in partnership with Rolex, the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award was established to recognize the player who, during a current LPGA Tour season, has the most outstanding record in all five major championships. In 2020, Annika was elected the President of the International Golf Federation which oversees golf in the Olympic Games. In 2021, Annika became the first female golfer to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
About Gainbridge®
Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden
fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Indianapolis. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io or follow and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Group 1001
Group 1001 Insurance Holdings, LLC ("Group 1001") is a technology-driven financial services company with a mission to empower customers, employees, and communities by making innovative products accessible to everyone. Group 1001 strives to demystify how insurance and annuity products are purchased today by leveraging technology to provide intuitive financial solutions for all Americans. As part of its mission, Group 1001 invests in strategic partnerships to connect with and transform communities through education and sports. As of June 30, 2023, Group 1001 had combined assets under management of approximately $60.9 billion and comprises the following brands: Delaware Life, Gainbridge®, Clear Spring Health, Clear Spring Property and Casualty Group, and Clear Spring Life.
About the LPGA
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s premier women’s professional golf organization. Created in 1950 by 13 pioneering female Founders, the LPGA, whose members now represent over 60 countries, is the longest-standing professional women’s sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Professionals, the LPGA provides female professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level. In addition to its professional tours and teaching accreditation programs, the LPGA features a fully integrated Foundation, which offers best-in-class programming for female golfers through its junior golf programming and LPGA Amateurs chapters, tournaments and membership. LPGA aims to use its unique platform to inspire, transform and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course. Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and on its mobile apps. Join the social conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About the LPGA Tour
The LPGA Tour is the world’s leading competitive destination for the best female professional golfers in the world. The Tour hosts more than 30 annual events across 12 countries and regions for over 200 Active Players, awarding total prize funds exceeding $100 million and reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. Follow the LPGA Tour on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel.
Media Contact:
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The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican
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