ANNIKA Academy ELITE Training Program Introduces Athlete Roster for 2015-16

Participants Learn Annika’s ‘Winning Approach’ Philosophy to Achieve Top Results On and Off the Course

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – The ANNIKA Academy – Hall-of-Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam’s boutique golf instruction and fitness school – announces seven players have enrolled in its full-time ELITE Training Program for 2015-16.

With Annika’s “Winning Approach” philosophy at its core, the program is specifically designed to help aspiring golfers achieve their goals on the golf course, in the classroom and in life, no matter what profession they choose to pursue. Instructors are trained to identify swing faults and develop individualized, powerful, body-friendly swings built for longevity and consistency. Course management, strategy, tournament preparation, performance evaluation and data analytics (with Birdie Fire software) are also core components.

“Beginning this year, an onsite SAM PuttLab will be incorporated into the ELITE training regimen, joining technology like V1 software, K-vest, CPC and Flightscope,” says Maru Martinez, ELITE Athlete Recruiter. “Instructors are also scheduled to travel to a record number of tournaments, ensuring players are receiving optimal feedback regarding their competitive rounds.”

ELITE Athletes receive coaching from Annika’s hand-picked team. It includes Henri Reis, Annika’s only swing coach since she was 10 years old; Charlotta Sorenstam, 1993 NCAA Champion and LPGA winner; and Kai Fusser, Annika’s personal trainer for more than a decade. Every practice session is designed with a specific purpose and balances technical work with execution drills. Students regularly visit the course during these sessions so instructors can simulate tournament conditions.

Annika also personally shares her “Your 59” mental training and visualization strategies with participants. Students learn to not only identify and improve weaknesses, but to recognize strengths and how they can use them to their greatest advantage.

This year’s group features several returning students, as well as some new faces. They are:

• Ruixin “Rachel” Liu – Rachel is an Academy veteran and returning for her fourth year. A native of China, Rachel carded a seven-under-par score at a 2014 Suncoast Tour event. One of the top junior golfers in the country, her 2015 results include a second-place finish at the ANNIKA Invitational AJGA event, T-5 in a Suncoast Series tournament and T-13 in the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic on the Symetra Tour. She is being recruited by many of the country’s top Division I programs.

• Georgy Chernov – Georgy is from Moscow, Russia and is returning to the program for a second year. A member of the Russian National Team, he has played in many European team competitions. This summer he won the Vinogradov Junior Stage I while back home in Russia.

• Maxim Zarudny – Maxim is also from Moscow and, like Georgy, is also returning for a second year. He is also a member of the Russian National Team and has made great progress during his enrollment.

• Robert Manalo – Robert is from Barrigada, Guam and joined the ELITE Program last year to help realize his dream of earning a collegiate scholarship, despite only playing competitively for three years. Robby’s father is a professional golfer in Guam, and he dreams of following in his footsteps. His goal is to attend a Division I university in California.

• Greta Volker – A current member of the German National Team, Greta is a great addition to the ELITE program. Her goals are to improve her golf and mental skills to achieve success at the highest levels of competition. The 17-year-old enjoys art, playing piano and swimming.

• Louis Lyu – A 15-year-old from Beijing, China, Louis aims to one day be a top-10 player in the world. He finished eighth in a Future Collegians World Tour event earlier this year.

• Jeremy Huang – Also from Beijing, Jeremy started playing golf as a way to achieve discipline and concentration. He now has much higher aspirations and would like to play college golf in the United States while majoring in pure mathematics. He plans to be a teacher one day.

Several students will reside full-time at the Academy’s home of Reunion Resort, boasting three signature golf courses, multiple restaurants, a water park and more. Some will attend award-winning Windermere Preparatory School, while others are enrolled at highly-regarded Lake Nona High School or The Crenshaw School.

Recent ELITE Program Athletes realizing their dreams of playing collegiate golf include Shannon Aubert (Stanford University and member of 2015 national championship team), Samantha Wagner (University of Florida), Viviana Vazquez (Rollins College), Isabella Wang (Williams College) and Simin Feng (Vanderbilt University, 2014 Individual SEC Champion and rookie on LPGA Tour). Latanna Stone, the youngest player to ever qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur (10), is also an ELITE alumna.

College and professional golfers have also realized gains from the ELITE Training Program. They include Anna Nordqvist (2009 LPGA Champion and five-time LPGA Tour winner), Jonas Blixt (two-time PGA TOUR winner), Min Lee (Symetra Tour winner, LPGA player), Louise Friberg (LPGA and Symetra Tour player) and Ai-Chen Kuo (TLPGA winner).

Unparalleled scheduling flexibility is another ELITE calling card, as customized programs may be administered by the day, week, month or semester.

For more information and pricing: TheTeam@TheAnnikaAcademy.com, 888.266.4522.