Hanju LeeThe Young Prodigy Who Always Believed
Megha Ganne loves performing. In grade school, she starred in over a dozen plays and musicals. Her most memorable roles included the Queen of Hearts in “Alice in Wonderland” and Pinocchio in “Shrek The Musical.” Fast forward to this past Sunday at Bandon Dunes, and Stanford’s Megha Ganne delivered the performance of a lifetime, capturing the 125th US Women’s Amateur after a largely dominant victory over Brooke Biermann, winning 4&3 in a match she controlled from start to finish.
The 21-year-old has been in the spotlight since she was a teenager, but this victory feels different. “I can’t believe I’m standing here right now,” Ganne said as she held the trophy. “This is likely my last Women’s Amateur, and I really, really wanted to get this done.” The weight of those words tells the story of a golfer who has been chasing this moment for nearly a decade.
A Decade-Long Journey to Glory
Ganne, who starts her senior year at Stanford next month, has been chasing a USGA title for nearly a decade. She reached the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2019 at age 15, losing in 19 holes to Albane Valenzuela. That early heartbreak at such a young age only fueled her determination. Born to Indian immigrant parents in New Jersey, Ganne qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open as a 17-year-old high school student in June 2021, where she held a share of the lead after the opening round and finished as the leading amateur in a tie for 14th place.
Her resume reads like a who’s who of amateur golf achievements: Two-time member of Curtis Cup Team (2021, 2022), AJGA Rolex Player of the Year (2021), Three-time AJGA Rolex All-American, and Low amateur at U.S. Women’s Open (2021). Yet despite all these accolades, the one trophy that had eluded her was a USGA championship – until now.
The Dramatic Path to the Final
Ganne was 4 down with seven holes to play in the semifinals against Ella Scaysbrook when she rallied to force extra holes, winning with a birdie on the 19th hole. It was vintage Ganne – never giving up when the odds seemed insurmountable. Ganne’s message to herself while walking to the 12th tee: “There is no reason you should think bad of yourself right now. If you told yourself at 15 this is where you would be, you would be pretty proud of yourself. You’re exactly the type of person that could make this happen right now.”
That mental fortitude, honed through years of competing at the highest levels, proved to be her superpower when it mattered most. The comeback against Scaysbrook showcased exactly why she’s been considered one of amateur golf’s brightest stars for years.
Championship Sunday: A Master Class in Control
There wasn’t much drama in the championship match. Ganne never trailed, although each player won three holes, and the match was all square through 11 holes in the morning. Biermann lost the next three holes with bogeys and never caught up. Ganne was 3 up after 18 holes, and Biermann never got closer.
What made Ganne’s performance so impressive wasn’t just that she won, but how she won. Three times that Biermann won a hole in the afternoon, Ganne responded with a birdie to remain 4 up and make it only a matter of time before she won. It was the mark of a champion – answering pressure with precision, never allowing her opponent to gain momentum.
With this victory, Ganne has earned some serious perks that will shape her immediate future. By virtue of her win, Ganne receives exemption from qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at The Riviera Country Club, an automatic selection to the 2026 USA Curtis Cup Team, exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Women’s Amateurs, and invitation to the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
She also receives likely exemptions into the Chevron Championship, AIG Women’s Open, and Amundi Evian Championship – essentially opening doors to golf’s biggest stages. As a Stanford senior studying symbolic systems, Ganne has managed to balance academic excellence with athletic dominance, but the question now becomes: when will she turn professional?
The timing couldn’t be better. With Ganne earning points in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway after winning the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur, she’s positioning herself perfectly for a potential professional career. Her victory at Bandon Dunes isn’t just the culmination of a decade-long dream – it’s the beginning of what could be a stellar professional career.