Janet Xiyu Lin debuts as host of the inaugural Ninja Invitational

Sep 1, 2025

Acclaimed professional golfer and youth golf advocate, Janet Xiyu Lin has hosted her first American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournament, the Ninja Invitational hosted by Janet Xiyu Lin at Streamsong Black in Bowling Green, Florida.

The three-day tournament featured 72 golfers from five countries and 18 states, and included 49 past AJGA champions.

Clairey Lin of Palos Verdes Estates, California, won the inaugural tournament, finishing at 12-under-par 207 to claim a three-stroke victory. Entering as the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 8 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, this was Clairey Lin’s seventh AJGA title and first Invitational victory. “I can't believe it,” she said. “I think for the first few holes, I was thinking too much about playing other people rather than playing the course itself. After I fell behind a little bit, I tried to square my mindset up again...I stuck to my own game."

Right behind here were Iris Lee and Vidhi Lakhawala, who battled throughout the final round. Lee, of Orlando, Florida, finished solo second at 9-under-par 210, while Lakhawala, of Kendall Park, New Jersey, took solo third at 6-under-par 213.

On hand at the event, Janet Xiyu Lin reflected on hosting her first tournament. “This is my first time hosting an invitational tournament in the US together with the AJGA, and I’m honored to see so many young athletes pursuing their dreams of competitive golf. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and it’s thrilling to see the competitive spirit, camaraderie, and passion for golf in all the contestants.”

Among the participants were players from the AJGA qualifier that Ms. Lin hosted in Hong Kong earlier this year. One of these participants, Zuxin Wu, noted how interesting and valuable it was to compete at such a high level in the US in a competition that tested her full ability to compete independently without a caddie. “I’m so honored to compete in this AJGA tournament,” she said, “and I am incredibly grateful to Ninja and Janet Xiyu Lin for this opportunity. I will use the lessons from this experience to continue participating in more tournaments like this.”

Janet Xiyu Lin was also encouraged by the international participation in the Ninja Invitational. She said “It’s so important for the global development of the game to foster more opportunities for golfers from different backgrounds to compete and grow together. It’s my mission to provide more of these opportunities for young athletes here in the US and around the world.” 

Ninja’s multi-year commitment to the event underscores its dedication to supporting youth development and expanding access to high-level competitive golf. The Ninja Invitational hosted by Janet Xiyu Lin brought together talented female golfers from around the world, providing them with the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete at a high level. As a part of this collaboration, Ninja’s sponsorship underscores its dedication to fostering youth development in athletics.

In addition to her professional career, Ms. Lin will continue hosting tournaments and supporting initiatives, in part through the CJ Wang Foundation, that foster more international participation in US golf, especially bridging exchanges between golfers in Greater China with the US by sponsoring golfers from both regions to play in each other’s tournaments. She also aims to facilitate young golfers to receive education while developing professional golf potential through academic and athletic scholarships.

“Golf has given me so much, and I’m honored to host this tournament and many more to come to provide the same opportunity for the next generation of golfers.”