Golfer Annika Sorenstam Honored at Girls and Women in Sports Celebration

January 25, 2011

One of the most dominant players in women’s golf, Annika Sorenstam, has been selected as the recipient of the Saint Leo Women in Sports Achievement Award, presented annually during the Girls and Women in Sports Celebration. Sorenstam is the featured speaker during the dinner and awards program, to be held Thursday, February 3, at the Marion Bowman Activities Center. A reception begins at 6 p.m. and dinner follows at 7 p.m.

“Annika will be speaking to female student-athletes and guests about her experiences as a woman in athletics and how Title IX passing impacted her life and provided her the vision, passion and enthusiasm to succeed in the sport of women’s golf,” said John Semeraro,  associate athletic director. “She will share insights to this year’s Girls and Women in Sports Day theme Play, Believe, Achieve, which has helped her succeed in the sport of women’s golf.” 

Sorenstam has a remarkable story. She is the only woman to shoot 59 and one of only six to complete a career Grand Slam. She enjoyed a 5-year stretch during which she won 43 times and finished in the top three in nearly 70 percent of her starts.

She also made worldwide headlines when she became the first woman in 58 years to compete in a PGA Tour event, at the Colonial in 2003. She is a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame and a World of Golf Hall of Fame inductee.

The influential athlete was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1970, and began playing golf at the age of 12. She was an early stand-out player at the University of Arizona before turning pro.

Since retiring from professional competition after 73 LPGA Tour titles, Sorenstam has kept busy with various business ventures, including an academy near her Orlando home. While she is in Pasco County, she will visit Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club and conduct a private clinic to benefit The First Tee, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation that provides young people with educational programs to build character and promote values through the game of golf.

Saint Leo University is proud to honor Sorenstam as the 16th recipient of the Saint Leo Women in Sports Achievement Award. 

The Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration at Saint Leo is one of the longest-running such events in the state of Florida, and includes scholarships and award presentations to honor female student-athletes. Tickets to the dinner are $50 each. Purchase is suggested by January 28.

For more information on Saint Leo University’s celebration of the 25th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, or to purchase tickets, please contact Saint Leo Associate Athletic Director John Semeraro at (352) 588-8223 or via email at john.semeraro@saintleo.edu.

Click here for the evening’s invitation.

Click here to view the response card.