DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., September 17, 2014 – The Epson Tour, the Road to the LPGA, in conjunction with the ANNIKA Academy is excited to announce that Tour rookie Casey Grice (College Station, Tx.) is the recipient of the first Epson Tour ANNIKA Academy Elite Athlete Award. Grice best demonstrated the same “Winning Approach” philosophy, which Annika Sorenstam used during her playing days.
“To learn from the best has been an awesome experience and get her view on how she basically dominated the LPGA was great because that is what we are all striving to do,” said Grice, after accepting her award. “The knowledge we learned through the holistic approach she talks about has been priceless.”
Sorenstam, who founded the academy in 2007, presented Grice with the ANNIKA Academy Elite Athlete Award during the pairings party at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday in advance of the Epson Tour Championship presented by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
“Casey enthusiastically attended each development session while also playing well in her rookie year on the Epson Tour,” said Annika Sorenstam. “She has embraced the "Winning Approach" we teach at the ANNIKA Academy and therefore we are excited to present her with the ANNIKA Academy Elite Athlete Award."
In January, the ANNIKA Academy became the official elite golf-training academy for the Epson Tour. This year, Epson Tour players had the opportunity to take part in seven professional development sessions delivered by the ANNIKA Academy. Sessions focused on various aspects of the “winning approach” including fitness, nutrition, the golf swing and more.
Sorenstam hosted two Skype sessions with Epson Tour players throughout the year and delivered the final session in person at Daytona International Speedway.
Grice, 22, had a strong rookie season with two top-10 finishes and 14 cuts made in 19 events played. She ranks 34th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list headed into the final event of the year. She is seventh amongst Epson Tour rookies.
Grice was a star golfer for three years at the University of North Carolina. She was selected Honorable Mention All-America in 2012.
She immediately embraced the ANNIKA Academy development sessions and attended all seven.
“She was one of my favorite players growing up, I loved following her (Annika) and getting to know her game. To be here and be on the same stage as her to accept the award was surreal.”
Sorenstam is widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s golfers of all-time. She won 72 LPGA Tour titles including ten majors.
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