By Rich Chrampanis
HOLMDEL – Megha Ganne captured the attention of the golf world when she qualified for the U.S. Open as a freshman at Holmdel High School in 2019 and followed that by finishing as the low amateur in the 2021 U.S. Open. She grabbed national headlines after she was tied for the lead in the worldwide showcase at the end of the first round.
Now a sophomore at Stanford University, Ganne is heading to the U.S. Open for the third time as an amateur.
Ganne shot 6 under par over 36 holes at El Marcero Country Club in California to win medalist honors at the U.S. Open qualifier, earning a spot in this summer’s major at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania May 28 through June 4.
Ganne continues on the path to becoming one of the next great golfers on the PGA Tour. She finished in a tie for 20th at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur earlier this month after finishing 13th in 2023. It’s the second straight year Ganne made the cut through the first 36 holes and had the chance to play the famed layout at Augusta National.
Currently ranked 52nd in the women’s amateur world golf rankings, Ganne was named the Pac-12 freshman of the year in 2023. She has already secured sponsorship from Taylor Made and was featured in a Bank of America television ad that aired during the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
She’ll have a great challenge to match her 2021 U.S. Open effort when she finished in a tie for 14th against the top golfers in the world at the Olympic Club in California. There she followed her opening round of 67 by finishing 4 over for the tournament.
As Ganne finishes her college golf season before focusing on the U.S. Open, her sister is still making noise in the New Jersey golf world. Sirinia, a junior at Holmdel, is the defending NJSIAA golf state champion. She won the 2023 title at Raritan Valley Country Club with a score of 2 over par. Sirinia recently won the Monmouth County championship and will look to lead the Hornets to a state title as well as defend her individual championship.
The article originally appeared in the April 25 – May 1, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
