The AJGA will announce two tournament award winners each week leading up to the AJGA's Annual Meeting and the announcement of the Digger Smith Award.
The ANNIKA Invitational, which took place at Reunion Resort in Reunion, Fla., Feb. 18 21, 2011, has earned the Media Award from the American Junior Golf Association. The Media Award recognizes a tournament with outstanding media participation and coverage before, during and after the event across a variety of platforms.
"We are honored to receive the Media Award from the AJGA," Mike McGee, ANNIKA Managing Director said. "I think it is a testament to the respect people have for Annika and the amount of time she gives the young ladies at our tournament.
It's fun to see her interact with them."
| Award | Recipient |
| Newcomer of the Year | |
| Media Award | ANNIKA Invitational |
| Most Improved Award | E-Z-GO Vaughn Taylor Championship |
| Volunteer Award | The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf |
| Hospitality Award | Exide Technologies Junior Open |
Junior-Am Award | |
| Invitational of the Year | HP
Boys Championship at Carlton Woods |
| Charitable Giving Award | |
| Golf Professional of the Year | Billy Anderson, Eagle Point Golf Club |
| Tournament of the Year | ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior |
| Digger Smith Award | March 10 |
The ANNIKA Foundation team worked tirelessly to secure media coverage from Orlando-area outlets as well as major national golf outlets. The ANNIKA Clinic sponsored by Rolex was featured on the Golf Channels Morning Drive broadcast, and the tournament was covered daily by Golfweek and The Orlando Sentinel.
In addition to daily tournament coverage, the ANNIKA team also conducted a press conference prior to the event, featuring Annika, tournament participants Shannon Aubert and Mariah Stackhouse, ANNIKA Foundation President Don Ochsenreiter, as well as Rolexs Vice President, Director of Communications Peter Nicholson and AJGA Executive Director Stephen Hamblin.
Since its inception in 2009, the ANNIKA Invitational has been recognized with an AJGA tournament award each year. The inaugural event was honored as the Newcomer of the Year and the 2010 event received the Invitational of the Year award. The Media Award marks the third consecutive year the event will be recognized for outstanding contributions to junior golf.
The AJGA annually presents awards to the tournaments with the best Junior-Am fundraising tournament, charitable giving, volunteer base and hospitality. The AJGA also recognizes its golf professional of the year, most improved event, best Invitational, and overall tournament of the year.
The Tournament Committee will accept its award at the AJGA's Annual Meeting, which will be held March 9 - 11 at Château Élan Resort in Braselton, Ga.