Indian-American golfer Megha Ganne, a 21-year-old rising senior at Stanford University, made history by winning the 125th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, defeating Brooke Biermann 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final on Sunday. The victory, Ganne’s first USGA title, places her among golfing greats like Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Lydia Ko, earning her exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club and a spot on the 2025 USA Women’s World Amateur Team in Singapore.

Ganne, ranked No. 11 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, showcased resilience in windy conditions, overcoming top-20 players Anna Davis, Kary Hollenbaugh, and Eila Galitsky, and staging a dramatic 19-hole semifinal comeback against Ella Scaysbrook from 4 down with seven holes to play. In the final, Ganne seized control with birdies on holes 13 and 15, capitalizing on Biermann’s bogeys to lead 3 up at lunch. Her clutch 5-iron on the par-4 11th in the afternoon sealed her dominance, closing the match with a two-putt par on the par-3 33rd. “It’s surreal,” Ganne said, reflecting on childhood dreams of USGA glory.

Born to Indian immigrants Sudha, an endocrinologist, and Hari, an IT entrepreneur, in Holmdel, New Jersey, Ganne joins a wave of Indian-origin golfers like PGA Tour stars Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala. Her 2021 U.S. Women’s Open performance, where she led after round one and finished T-14 as low amateur at 17, foreshadowed her potential. On the day of her win, Bhatia tied for sixth at the PGA Tour’s St. Jude Championship, reinforcing the rise of Indian-American golfers.

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Biermann, a 2025 Michigan State graduate, fought valiantly in her final amateur event before LPGA Q-School, earning a 2026 U.S. Women’s Open exemption (contingent on remaining amateur). “Megha’s a great player,” Biermann said, noting her cold putter but praising the Bandon Dunes experience.

Ganne’s coach, Katie Rudolph, who spotted her talent at age 7, called her a “superstar” whose mental fortitude grew at Stanford, where she contributed to the 2024 NCAA team title. Social media on X erupted with pride, with @USGA tweeting, “A magnificent week for Megha Ganne!” while @amateurgolfcom highlighted her clutch play. However, some users noted the need for better TV coverage of women’s amateur events.

As Ganne prepares for her final Stanford season and a likely professional career, her Bandon triumph—on a course where winds hit 30 mph—marks a defining moment for Indian-American representation in golf.

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