Megha Ganne, a sophomore at Stanford University with Indian heritage, is gaining attention in college golf as a strong contender for the 2025 Annika Award. This prestigious honor is given to the top female collegiate golfer of the year. Ganne’s season has been remarkable, with a major win at the Nanea Invitational and three top-10 finishes in stroke play events. Having participated in three tournaments so far, she currently holds the No. 6 ranking.
The Annika Award, sponsored by Stifel, is decided through votes cast by college golfers, coaches, and media professionals in the golf industry. A panel of reporters from Golfweek and Golf Channel recently released a watch list of 20 leading contenders. Among them, Maria Jose Marin from Arkansas holds the No. 1 spot, while USC’s Jasmine Koo has already secured three tournament victories this season. Other key names in the competition include Carolina Chacarra from Wake Forest (ranked No. 5), South Carolina’s Hannah Darling (ranked No. 10), Ohio State’s Kary Hollenbaugh (ranked No. 20), and Florida State’s Mirabel Ting (ranked No. 3), who has also claimed three tournament titles.
Ganne, born in Long Branch, New Jersey, comes from an Indian background through her parents, Sudha and Hari. Before focusing on golf, she played multiple sports, including tennis and swimming. By the age of 12, she fully committed to golf and has since made significant strides in the sport.
The Annika Award is one of the most esteemed honors in college golf, with past recipients often going on to have successful professional careers. As the season progresses, competition among the top players is expected to become even more intense, making the battle for the 2025 title one to watch.
