Belleair, Florida, September 26, 2025
News Summary
Anne-Sterre den Dunnen, a talented senior golfer from Wake Forest, is set to make her LPGA Tour debut at The Annika driven by Gainbridge in Belleair, Florida. She received an invitation after her team’s impressive victory at the Annika Intercollegiate. Den Dunnen’s selection reflects her strong performance and character, as recognized by her coach and teammates. Excitement surrounds her debut, particularly with a substantial purse and the presence of top competitors.
Belleair, Florida
Wake Forest Senior Anne-Sterre den Dunnen to Make LPGA Tour Debut at The Annika Hosted by Sörenstam
In a sharp, feel-good turn for collegiate golf, Anne-Sterre den Dunnen is gearing up for her first taste of the big leagues. Anne-Sterre den Dunnen, a senior from the Netherlands, will make her first LPGA Tour appearance in November. The buzz is real and the stage is massive.
The spotlight comes via an invitation straight from tournament organizers. She received a sponsor invitation to compete at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. That event sits on the calendar and in the headlines for good reason. The tournament will take place from November 10 to 16 at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. It’s one thing to dominate college events; it’s another to jump into a tournament with a deep field and big money.
How she earned it
This invite wasn’t random. Den Dunnen earned the invitation after Wake Forest women’s golf team won the Annika Intercollegiate, which was held in Minnesota. The team result had extra gloss to it: The victory at the Annika Intercollegiate was Wake Forest’s first for the 2025-26 season and third overall at this event. The choice of who would get the sponsor spot didn’t come down to one person — The selection for the sponsor invitation was unanimous among the team and coaching staff.
Inside the program, staff are quick to point to commitment and character. Wake Forest head coach Kim Lewellen stated that den Dunnen has been a wonderful representative of the program. Those endorsements matter when a young player is handed a chance to strut their stuff on the LPGA stage.
Results that matter
Den Dunnen’s recent form gave the staff confidence. Den Dunnen finished tied for eighth at the Annika Intercollegiate with a score of two under par. And in a clutch moment on another stage, She also clinched a significant point for Wake Forest at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup by winning in a 21-hole playoff against Stanford’s Kelly Xu. Those are the kind of moments that make a team hand over a sponsor slot without a second thought.
Dream debut
The move to a professional field is a milestone. Den Dunnen expressed excitement about her LPGA debut, stating it has been a dream since childhood to play on the tour. The Annika event gives her more than a memory; it gives exposure. The Annika tournament has a purse of $3.25 million, making it one of the largest outside of major championships. That kind of purse draws the top names and puts young players in the deep end.
The event is run with prestige and star power. The event is hosted by Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam, who has endorsed den Dunnen as a deserving participant for the LPGA Tour debut. Past champs read like a who’s-who of the women’s game. Notable past winners of The Annika include Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, and Sei Young Kim.
From junior standout to LPGA hopeful
Den Dunnen arrives with pedigree. Den Dunnen has a decorated junior golf background, having won multiple national and international championships. The Annika stage is known as a launching pad. The tournament will provide an opportunity for den Dunnen to compete against top players in women’s golf and is seen as a launching pad for aspiring professionals.
Beyond competition, the event gives back. The proceeds from the tournament benefit the ANNIKA Foundation. For a young player, the week is a chance to measure up, learn fast, and see how the game feels when the lights are bright and the gallery is packed.
What to watch
- Can she handle a pro field? The biggest test will be staying steady amid world-class players.
- Will the Pelican layout suit her game? Course knowledge and strategy will separate good rounds from headline-making ones.
- Momentum for a pro career? A solid week could change scheduling and open doors after the college season.
FAQ
Q: When will Anne-Sterre den Dunnen make her first LPGA Tour appearance?
A: Anne-Sterre den Dunnen, a senior from the Netherlands, will make her first LPGA Tour appearance in November.
Q: How did den Dunnen get into The Annika tournament?
A: She received a sponsor invitation to compete at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
Q: When and where is the tournament being held?
A: The tournament will take place from November 10 to 16 at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.
Q: Why was den Dunnen chosen for the sponsor invitation?
A: Den Dunnen earned the invitation after Wake Forest women’s golf team won the Annika Intercollegiate, which was held in Minnesota. The selection for the sponsor invitation was unanimous among the team and coaching staff.
Q: How did she perform at the Annika Intercollegiate?
A: Den Dunnen finished tied for eighth at the Annika Intercollegiate with a score of two under par.
Q: Did she have other big moments for Wake Forest?
A: She also clinched a significant point for Wake Forest at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup by winning in a 21-hole playoff against Stanford’s Kelly Xu.
Q: What has Wake Forest’s coach said about her?
A: Wake Forest head coach Kim Lewellen stated that den Dunnen has been a wonderful representative of the program.
Q: What is the purse and what does the tournament support?
A: The Annika tournament has a purse of $3.25 million, making it one of the largest outside of major championships. The proceeds from the tournament benefit the ANNIKA Foundation.
Q: Who hosts the event and who are past winners?
A: The event is hosted by Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam, who has endorsed den Dunnen as a deserving participant for the LPGA Tour debut. Notable past winners of The Annika include Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, and Sei Young Kim.
Q: What is den Dunnen’s background?
A: Den Dunnen has a decorated junior golf background, having won multiple national and international championships. The tournament will provide an opportunity for den Dunnen to compete against top players in women’s golf and is seen as a launching pad for aspiring professionals.
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Quick Facts Table
Item | Detail |
---|---|
Tournament | The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican |
Player Invitation | She received a sponsor invitation to compete at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. |
Player | Anne-Sterre den Dunnen, a senior from the Netherlands, will make her first LPGA Tour appearance in November. |
Dates & Location | The tournament will take place from November 10 to 16 at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. |
How earned invitation | Den Dunnen earned the invitation after Wake Forest women’s golf team won the Annika Intercollegiate, which was held in Minnesota. |
Team note | The victory at the Annika Intercollegiate was Wake Forest’s first for the 2025-26 season and third overall at this event. |
Selection | The selection for the sponsor invitation was unanimous among the team and coaching staff. |
Coach comment | Wake Forest head coach Kim Lewellen stated that den Dunnen has been a wonderful representative of the program. |
Performance | Den Dunnen finished tied for eighth at the Annika Intercollegiate with a score of two under par. |
Clutch moment | She also clinched a significant point for Wake Forest at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup by winning in a 21-hole playoff against Stanford’s Kelly Xu. |
Purse | The Annika tournament has a purse of $3.25 million, making it one of the largest outside of major championships. |
Host | The event is hosted by Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam, who has endorsed den Dunnen as a deserving participant for the LPGA Tour debut. |
Past winners | Notable past winners of The Annika include Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, and Sei Young Kim. |
Background | Den Dunnen has a decorated junior golf background, having won multiple national and international championships. |
Significance | The tournament will provide an opportunity for den Dunnen to compete against top players in women’s golf and is seen as a launching pad for aspiring professionals. |
Charity | The proceeds from the tournament benefit the ANNIKA Foundation. |
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Additional Resources
- TBB WMAG: Anne-Sterre den Dunnen LPGA Debut
- Wikipedia: Ladies Professional Golf Association
- LPGA: Brittany Lincicome Plans to Retire
- Google Search: Anne-Sterre den Dunnen LPGA
- Jacksonville.com: LPGA Annika Sörenstam
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf

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