By Rich Chrampanis
HOLMDEL – Megha Ganne is going to have one heck of an excused absence from Holmdel High during the end of May. The 15-year-old freshman qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina thanks to winning the 36-hole sectional qualifying round at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe April 23.
After shooting a one-under-par 70 in her first 18 holes, Ganne shot a 72 to earn medalist honors by one stroke over University of Notre Dame senior Emma Albrecht of Ormond Beach, Florida. There was just one spot available in the field of 40 that included eight pro golfers and numerous players with major college experience, but Ganne was not intimidated thanks to a decorated junior career.
“I just felt I went out and played like it was any other tournament,” Ganne told the New Jersey State Golf Association following her second round. “I do get intimidated by the older players, but it’s not like I’m a 10-year-old. I hit it as far as they do and I’ve been playing golf since I was 7. I have experience and felt I had as good a chance as anyone in the field.”
Ganne had the opportunity to play at the famed Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, earlier in April as she finished second in her age group at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship. Ganne participated in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships in 2017 and 2018, the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2017 and the U.S. Women’s Four-Ball Championship in 2018.
Her journey to one of golf’s major championships showed remarkable resilience in a high-pressure situation. Leading the field by one stroke through 18 holes, Ganne was poised to run away from the field after recording birdies on the 10th and 14th holes to get to three-under par. But the leader found trouble with a double-bogey six on the 16th hole and a bogey four on number 17 to get back to even par. Ganne was able to recover with a par putt on 18 which secured her chance to play with the world’s best golfers in South Carolina.
“I don’t think I was too aggressive, but I was just getting sloppy and sometimes didn’t think through my shots. I was careful not to always look at the pin – and sometimes I didn’t aim at the safest spots – which is what I should have done when I was three under,” Ganne said.
She is part of a Holmdel girls golf squad that has won its first seven dual matches and is a contender for a state championship. Ganne finished second at the Shore Conference championship helping the Hornets win a third consecutive SCT title.
While there’s a $5 million purse, Ganne will compete as an amateur at the U.S. Open. It’s likely she will be the youngest player in the field in 2019, but her performance at the sectional qualifier and her national tournament experience has proven that she will not be overwhelmed playing against the best golfers in the world.
This article originally appeared in the May 2-8, 2019 print edition of The Two River Times.
