Ashleen Kaur wins the 15th ANNIKA Invitational title
By Emma Varela
Orlando, Fla. – Ashleen Kaur of Cypress, Texas, wins the 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex. Kaur put together rounds of 69 – 66 – 69 for a tournament total 15-under-par 204.
The Baylor University commit earns a spot in the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions Pro-Am tomorrow with a chance to advance to play the whole tournament at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. This will mark Kaur’s first professional start.
Kaur put together a final round bogey-free front nine. She went out at 2-under-par 34. As she moved to the back she built on her strong start birdieing No. 10. A bogey on No. 12 set her back a stroke and left the door open for playing partner, Katie Li of Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Kaur birdied No. 14 before bogeying No. 17.
Heading to No. 18 Kaur was one-stroke back of Li. The current senior holed a walk off eagle on No. 18 from 40 feet out to win the tournament.
This week was Kaur’s first start at the ANNIKA Invitational. Her score of 15-under-par 204 broke the 54-hole scoring record set for the first time in 2015 by Angel Yin and matched in 2022 by Anna Davis of Spring Valley, California, and eventual champion Yana Wilson of Henderson, Nevada.
It means a lot to compete in this event hosted by Annika. She was a huge inspiration to me growing up so getting to compete here and win it is incredible.
ASHLEEN KAUR, 2023 #ANNIKAINVUSA CHAMPION
This is Kaur’s first invitational win and second AJGA win. She took home the 2022 C.T. Pan Junior Championship in her hometown of Houston.
Alice Ziyi Zhao of (China) Irvine, California, and Li finished tied for second at 14-under-par 205.
Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto, Ontario, finished in solo fourth at 11-under-par 208.
In solo fifth, Lauren Kim of Surrey, British Columbia, at 10-under-par 209.
Rianne Malixi of (Philippines) San Bernardino, California, shared sixth place with Nika Ito of Chiba, Japan, and Kiara Romero of San Jose, California, at 9-under-par 210. Malixi matched the tournament low round score of 8-under-par 65 set by Davis in 2022.
Thanana Kotchasanmanee of (Thailand) Rome, Georgia, and Trinity Beth of Calvert, City, Kentucky, round out the top-10 with a final score of 8-under-par 211.
The 15th annual Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex boasted a field featuring the best female junior golfers from around the world. The 72-player field included twenty-nine Rolex Junior All-Americans, 16 of the top-25 girls in the Rolex AJGA Rankings and four within the top-10.
For more information or photo requests, please contact AJGA Communications Manager – Emma Varela at evarela@ajga.org.
