Championship
About Us
History
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is a premier event on the LPGA Tour, bringing the greatest female professional golfers to the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater area and celebrating the legacy of one of golf’s greatest champions – Annika Sörenstam.
Launched in 2020, the tournament began as the Pelican Women’s Championship, hosted at the stunning Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. In just a few short years, it quickly established itself as a must-play stop on the LPGA calendar, drawing top talent from around the world and showcasing elite women’s golf in a world-class setting.
In 2023, the tournament took on a new name and deeper meaning with the addition of golf icon Annika Sörenstam and title sponsor Gainbridge. Rebranded as The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, the event not only honors Annika’s remarkable career and contributions to the game, but also aligns with her ongoing mission to elevate women’s golf through her ANNIKA Foundation.
Set against the backdrop of Pelican Golf Club’s pristine fairways and old Florida charm, the tournament blends tradition and innovation. With competitive fields, best-in class hospitality, and a commitment to empowering the next generation of golfers, The ANNIKA is more than a tournament – it’s a celebration of excellence, legacy, and the future of women’s golf.
Annika
In 2008, Annika stepped away from professional golf and created the ANNIKA Foundation, which has impacted more than 8,000 young women from 60 different countries to date and growing. It currently hosts grassroots "Share My Passion" golf clinics for young girls and seven global tournaments for junior girls. The Foundation also hosts the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, a premiere event on the NCAA Division I women’s golf fall schedule featuring 12 of the top DI schools in the country. A member of the winning team earns an exemption to compete in The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
In 2014, the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award was established in partnership with the LPGA and Rolex to recognize the player who, during a current LPGA Tour season, has the most outstanding record in all five major championships. In 2020, Annika was elected the President of the International Golf Federation, which oversees golf in the Olympic Games. In 2021, Annika became the first female golfer to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Annika Foundation
Annika, the ANNIKA Foundation and the Haskins Foundation annually recognize the NCAA Division I women’s golf player of the year via the ANNIKA Award.
The Foundation is launching the new More Than Golf Invitational in 2025 for women's Mid-Major Conference Champions. It also supports 12 female college graduates through the ANNIKA Development Program at Old Barnwell as they pursue their professional golf dreams. The ANNIKA Women's All Pro Tour was launched this year to provide a better pathway for women to the Epson Tour and LPGA Tour.
Gainbridge
Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone, no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Indiana. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io.
Gainbridge® has shown a deep commitment to investing in women’s sports. In addition to The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, they also title the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge and the World Cup of Women’s Tennis. Gainbridge® is also a sponsor of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and counts Caitlin Clark as a brand ambassador. Gainbridge® is proud of its association with Clark, Billie Jean King, Annika Sorenstam. Over 40% of Gainbridge® sports sponsorship dollars are invested in women’s sports.
Pelican Golf Club
Pelican Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course designed with inspiration from Donald Ross' original layout, plays to a par 70 and nearly 7,000 yards. Pelican Golf Club features lush greenery, undulating terrain, and crushed quartz sand. Every detail has been artfully designed and planned to perfection.
Although the course is rooted in the beauty of old-world courses of the past, its infrastructure is state of the art. It features manicured fairways and uninterrupted rough with greens and tees maintained at the highest levels.
NBC Golf Pass Article
Dan Doyle Sr. and Dan Doyle Jr.
Dan Doyle Sr. and Dan Doyle Jr. - owners of Pelican Golf Club - are also highly committed to giving back in our community. Since they founded DEX Imaging in 2002, they've donated one third of all company profits to employees and local non-profits.
For more than 40 years, the Doyle family has impacted countless local nonprofits including Berkeley Preparatory School, Jesuit High School, Academy Prep, Morton Plant Mease Hospital, R'Club, PARC, National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
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Community
Belleair and Tampa Bay
Set along Florida’s breathtaking Gulf Coast, Belleair and the greater Tampa Bay area offer a unique blend of coastal charm, world-class hospitality, and rich cultural experiences that make every visit unforgettable.
Home to Pelican Golf Club, the historic town of Belleair is a hidden gem—where timeless elegance meets laid-back luxury. With its canopy-lined streets, warm community spirit, and stunning waterfront views, Belleair is the perfect stage for The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge.
Just minutes away, the Tampa Bay region offers something for everyone—powder-soft beaches in Clearwater and St. Pete, an electric food scene, vibrant arts and music, and a passion for sports that runs deep. From championship golf to playoff hockey, sunset festivals to craft breweries, the area radiates a sense of celebration and community year-round.
Whether you're soaking up the sun, exploring local culture, or cheering on the LPGA’s best, Belleair and Tampa Bay welcome fans, players, and visitors alike with open arms and endless sunshine. At The ANNIKA, we’re proud to call this dynamic and beautiful region home.
Veterans Day PResented by Pinch A Penny
On Friday, November 14, 2025, we celebrated Veterans Day, honoring the men and women who have served and are serving our country.
In celebration and as the first LPGA event to host a Folds of Honor Friday, A Color Guard and his team presented the flags and a crawd gathered for the National Anthem. Patrons, players, caddies, members, and tournament staff were provided with American Flag pins, compliments of Pinch A Penny to wear. Caddies wore wear special blue camouflage bibs.
On Hole 12, members of the military tended to an American Flag pin flag for players. All military (active, reserve, retired and veterans) plus one received complimentary admission to The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican by showing proper identification at Admissions in exchange for a daily grounds pass. Military and their plus one also had access to the Hero Outpost Presented by FedData & SERVPRO, an exclusive covered viewing deck on the 12th hole & 16th hole with complimentary snacks and beverages.
BayCare Birdies for Babies program
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in partnership with BayCare Health System pledged to donate $50 for every birdie scored during all four (4) rounds of the 2025 event to BayCare's Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation. All funds raised will be invested into Mease Countryside and Morton Plant Hospitals to enhance training and prepare caregivers for real-life challenges in infant healthcare with the “Super Tory”, also providing funding for a new Tecotherm Infant Cooling System.
The 108-player field in 2025 carded 1316 total birdies, 12 eagles and 2 Hole in Ones as part of the "Birdies for Babies" charitable program. Spectators got involved with the 'BayCare Long Putt Challenge', where $100 was donated for every 30-foot putt made. The tournament donated $100,00 total in 2025.
To learn more, please click here.
Places to stay - Plan your perfect st. pete-clearwater getaway
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is proudly sponsored by
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. This is just the start of something unforgettable. Extend your stay to explore stunning beaches, local flavors, and can’t-miss experiences that make St. Pete-Clearwater the ultimate getaway. Plan your trip and find the perfect place to stay on VisitSPC.com.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Tournament preferred local restaurants: Belleair Coffee Company, Belleair Market, Colony Grill, Sages Bistro, and Schooners.
Tournament Preferred Hotels
LPGA Tour
About the LPGA Tour
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s premier women’s professional golf organization. Created in 1950 by 13 pioneering female Founders, the LPGA, whose Members now represent nearly 40 countries, is the longest-standing professional women’s sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, the LPGA Professionals, and a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA provides female professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level. In addition to its professional tours and teaching accreditation programs, the LPGA features a fully integrated Foundation, which provides best-in-class programming for female golfers through its junior golf programming, and its LPGA Amateurs division, which offers its members playing and learning opportunities around the world. The LPGA aims to use its unique platform to inspire, transform and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course.
Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and download its mobile apps on Apple or Google Play. Join the social conversation on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.
Giving Back
The LPGA and its tournament partners have donated more than $200 million to charities throughout the United States and in international territories. We take our place in the community seriously, whether it's visits to local schools or food banks, serving on community boards, or working with our partners and fans to funnel charity dollars to where they are needed most.
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