Indian-American golfer Megha Ganne etched her name into the record books by claiming the 2025 US Women’s Amateur title at Bandon Dunes, defeating Brooke Biermann 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final. The victory not only shocked the golfing world but also secured her place among the sport’s rising stars.
Ganne, a 21-year-old rising senior, triumphed over Biermann, a recent Michigan State graduate, in what was her seventh appearance in the prestigious championship. The Holmdel, New Jersey native is the daughter of first-generation Indian immigrants—her mother, Dr. Sudha Ganne, an endocrinologist, and her father, Hari Ganne, an IT entrepreneur. Megha grew up alongside her sister Sirina, balancing academics with her steady climb in competitive golf.
Her breakthrough moment came in 2021, when as a teenager she led the US Women’s Open after the first round and remained in contention until finishing tied for 14th. That performance foreshadowed her ascent alongside other golfers of Indian heritage making waves globally, such as PGA Tour players Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala, Indo-British winner Aaron Rai, and Korn Ferry Tour champions Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Julian Suri.
Winning the 125th edition of the world’s second-oldest women’s amateur championship brings Ganne an exemption into the 2026 US Women’s Open at The Riviera Country Club in California and a guaranteed place on the USA Women’s World Amateur team competing in Singapore this October.
Her path to the title was filled with impressive victories. Ranked No. 11 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, she eliminated three top-20 players—Anna Davis (14), Kary Hollenbaugh (20), and Eila Galitsky (6)—before staging a remarkable comeback in the semifinals. Trailing by four with seven holes left, she forced extra holes and prevailed against No. 63 seed Ella Scaysbrook, who had never trailed in any match until the final hole of their duel.
The championship match itself was controlled from start to finish. After being tied through 11 holes in the morning session, Ganne capitalized on three consecutive bogeys from Biermann to seize a commanding lead. She ended the first 18 holes 3 up and never allowed her opponent to close the gap. Notably, Ganne has also defeated former World No. 1 amateur and current LPGA winner Lottie Woad earlier in her career—a sign of her readiness to compete at the sport’s highest levels.
