NAPLES, Fla. – The ANA Inspiration is upgrading its junior event to showcase more of the world’s best young talent.
The ANA Junior Inspiration will become an American Junior Golf Association Invitational next year, with LPGA “legends” joining the field. The junior champion will earn the final spot in the year’s first LPGA major championship.
“As the title sponsor of the ANA Inspiration and the official airline of the LPGA, we take seriously our responsibility in fostering the next generation of women’s golf,” said Hideki Kunugi, president of Americas ANA.
CME Group Tour Championship: Articles, photos and videos
The ANA Junior was originally designed as a local 18-hole event filled with Southern California girls. Now, it will be played as an AJGA sanctioned 54-hole event with the final round on the Mission Hills Dinah Shore Tournament Course the weekend before the LPGA major. A field of 40 juniors will compete, with 11 qualifiers from ANA gateway cities and the rest of the field coming off the Polo Golf Rankings.
Twenty LPGA legends will play the final 18 holes alongside juniors.
