Anne-Sterre den Dunnen has walked fairways with her Wake Forest teammates before, but never like this. In November, she will make her first LPGA Tour appearance as a sponsor invitation at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Tampa Bay’s annual stop on the tour.
The senior from the Netherlands earned the invitation after Wake Forest captured the Annika Intercollegiate title earlier this month in Minnesota, the team’s first victory of the 2025-26 season and third overall at the event. The team and coaching staff voted on who would represent them at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair. The choice was unanimous.
“We are excited for the opportunity for Anne to play her first LPGA Tour event at The Annika in November,” said Wake Forest head coach Kim Lewellen. “It was unanimous that Anne would take this honor. She has been a wonderful representative for Wake Forest golf and athletics.”
A player ready for the moment
Den Dunnen finished tied for eighth at the Annika Intercollegiate, carding two under par. She later clinched the decisive point for Wake Forest at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup, outlasting Stanford’s Kelly Xu in a 21-hole playoff.
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The chance to compete against the best players in women’s golf is the kind of opportunity she has been preparing for since childhood.
“I’m so incredibly excited for this opportunity,” den Dunnen said. “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always dreamed of being able to play on the LPGA. This tournament is going to be an amazing taste of what the future holds.”
The Annika’s Growing Legacy
The Annika, hosted by Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam, takes place from Nov. 10 to 16 and features one of the largest purses at $3.25 million. The tournament has become a showcase for rising talent, with sponsor invitations often serving as launching pads for players’ professional careers.
Sörenstam said she sees a fitting debut for den Dunnen.
“She is a leader at Wake Forest, and I’ve enjoyed seeing her hard work pay off both on and off the course,” Sörenstam said. “For her to compete in her first LPGA Tour event at The Annika is very special.”
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A decorated junior golfer before arriving at Wake Forest, den Dunnen won multiple national and international championships, including the Dutch Amateur and the Italian Girls Under 18. Now, she turns her focus toward competing alongside major champions and LPGA veterans in Belleair.
The Annika has a short but star-studded history. Nelly Korda captured her third win at the event in 2024, while Lilia Vu and Sei Young Kim have also hoisted the trophy in recent years. For den Dunnen, the moment is less about lifting a trophy and more about stepping onto the stage she has envisioned since she was young.
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