Stanford star Megha Ganne faces Michigan State’s Brooke Biermann in a final that has all the makings of an epic underdog story — one seeking redemption, the other chasing history

The winds of Bandon Dunes have whipped up more than just coastal spray this week — they’ve delivered a championship final that reads like a Hollywood script. After both semifinals needed extra holes for only the third time in the 125-year history of the U.S. Women’s Amateur, we’re left with a David vs. Goliath matchup that has the golf world buzzing.

In one corner stands Megha Ganne, the 21-year-old Stanford rising senior who captured America’s heart as a 17-year-old high schooler when she played her way into the final group of the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic Club. Ranked 11th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, she’s the overwhelming favorite and the closest thing amateur golf has to a household name.

In the other corner is Brooke Biermann, a 22-year-old recent Michigan State graduate from Wildwood, Missouri, ranked 112th in the world amateur rankings. She’s making her final amateur start before turning professional, and she’s never made it past the 36-hole cut in five previous USGA championship attempts.

The Favorite: Ganne’s Path to Redemption

Ganne’s journey to Sunday’s 36-hole final has been nothing short of masterful. The Stanford star has systematically dismantled three top-20 world-ranked players in match play, including a stunning comeback from 4-down with seven holes to play against Australian Ella Scaysbrook in Saturday’s semifinal.

“I’ve won so many matches from 2, 3, 4 down,” Ganne said after her 19-hole victory. “Matches start on the back nine no matter what the score says.”

This isn’t Ganne’s first rodeo at this level. She’s competing in her eighth U.S. Women’s Amateur, having reached the semifinals as a 15-year-old in 2019 before losing in — ironically — 19 holes to Stanford’s Albane Valenzuela. The memory of that loss has fueled her ever since.

“I wasn’t flashing back exactly to the shots I was hitting, but I was thinking about how at the time, I was 15, I was playing Albane, who was a rising senior at Stanford,” Ganne reflected after Saturday’s win. “At the time I thought the world of her. I was like, there is no reason you should think bad of yourself right now.”

The Underdog: Biermann’s Cinderella Run

Then there’s Brooke Biermann, affectionately dubbed “Beer man” by the local Bandon Dunes caddies who’ve adopted her as their favorite. Her path to the final has been a testament to heart, grit, and the kind of pressure putting that legends are made of.

Just getting to match play was a breakthrough for Biermann, who had never survived the 36-hole stroke play cut in five previous USGA attempts. “I told my dad, I just need to get over that hurdle, and the hurdle was the cut,” she explained. “I know myself. I’ve played in several match-play events and I’ve gotten to the semifinals multiple times. I love match play. Like that’s where the fun begins.”

Her semifinal against Kansas lefty Lyla Louderbaugh was vintage Biermann — leading 3-up with three to play before watching Louderbaugh drain birdies of 15 and 35 feet on the final two holes to force extras. But when it mattered most, Biermann calmly two-putted for par on the 19th hole to advance.

“Coming down the stretch she threw everything she had,” Biermann said. “I just tried to stay calm and hit good shots.”

The Inspiration Behind the Underdog

What makes Biermann’s story even more compelling is the presence of her biggest fan: her 20-year-old sister Ashleigh, who was born with Jacobsen syndrome, a rare chromosomal condition. Ashleigh has been at virtually every tournament of Brooke’s career, armed with a backpack full of snacks, her lucky Sparty ball marker, and her favorite cheer: “Kick butt, Brooke!”

“She’s my No. 1 fan,” Brooke said. “She leans hard on me, and I lean hard on her, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.”

Their father Bill is on the bag this week, making it a true family affair as Brooke chases her first USGA title and Michigan State’s first-ever U.S. Women’s Amateur championship.

What’s at Stake on Sunday

The winner will earn exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club and secure an automatic spot on the 2026 USA Curtis Cup Team. For Ganne, it would validate years of being college golf’s biggest star and finally break through at the championship level. For Biermann, it would be the perfect capstone to her amateur career and Michigan State golf history.

The 36-hole final begins at 9:45 a.m. PDT, with Golf Channel providing live coverage of the afternoon 18 holes from 7-10 p.m. EDT. After 156 players started the week and 92 holes of match play for Biermann, it all comes down to 36 holes between a proven commodity and an underdog with nothing to lose.

In a sport often defined by its predictability at the highest levels, Sunday’s final promises to be anything but. David has his slingshot ready — now we’ll see if Goliath is prepared for the fight of her life.