Megha's Moment: Get to Know the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur Champion

BANDON, OR. — It's been long-awaited, but Megha Ganne has seized her moment. After countless USGA events, including six previous U.S. Women's Amateurs, Ganne can finally check off winning the coveted title that has evaded her for years.

"I'm not gonna lie. I was thinking about this trophy the entire day, which makes it really distracting to play golf. I was trying my absolute hardest to think about the shot in front of me," said Ganne after sinking the final putt to claim the Robert Cox Trophy, winning the U.S. Women's Amateur.

It's a moment Ganne has thought about since she was a little kid, practicing pretend winning putts in her family's basement. A dream came true on a gorgeous Sunday evening, and she did it on a stage that's so uniquely special in the golf world—the iconic Bandon Dunes.

A trek deep into the Pacific Northwest, that feels a lot like a quest but once you arrive, it makes it all worth it. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is a divinely special place. The air is perfectly crisp. The winds coming off the waves glide past you, whispering soft harmonies that take you out of your own body. It's something out of a golfer's fantasy. It's certainly the kind of setting that you'll never ever forget—and Ganne got the chance to write her own chapter in the Bandon fairytale.

But make no mistake about it, the 21-year-old isn't just some overnight sensation, she didn't come out of nowhere, and for some this always felt like a title she'd take ownership of. The classic case of, not if—but when.

It began in 2021 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, the setting of the 76th U.S. Women's Open. She was only 17 but Ganne put herself on the map. In her second USWO start, the youngster was leading after the first round. The magical weekend continued, and her stellar play landed her place in Sunday’s final pairing. She'd go on to finish T-14, but she still captured low-amateur honors for the tournament, and subsequently, everyone's attention—something Ganne is not shy of.

"I love playing any sort of tournament, but I really do love being in the spotlight. I like performing under pressure and I think it brings out the best in my game," Ganne expressed.

That USWO opened the flood gates. She was the Rolex AJGA Junior Player of the Year that same year. The following summer, she went undefeated in her Curtis Cup debut at Merion. And in the fall of 2022, she set off to Stanford.

And ever since she's played a key role for the Cardinal, winning two individual titles in her three seasons, and was a member of the winning 2024 National Championship team.

Ganne is well versed in the big stages of collegiate and amateur golf.

Earlier this year, she was making waves at ANWA, setting records and the pace during the first round—posting an opening 9-under 63—a tournament record.

RELATED: Setting an ANWA record in style, Stanford's Megha Ganne's (fit) game was on point

Ganne has a knack for golf's most iconic places, Augusta especially, prior to ANWA, she's also been a four-time Drive, Chip and Putt national finalist.

But there's no event that Ganne knows better than the U.S. Women's Am.

She qualified for her first U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2017, at just 13-years-old, and a few weeks later did the same for her first U.S. Women’s Amateur.

In 2019, she was the youngest match-play qualifier by four years at that event before losing in the semifinals in 19 holes to Albane Valenzuela, a fellow Stanford Cardinal.

Ganne was disqualified from her final U.S. Girls’ Junior in 2022 for signing for an incorrect score, and she missed last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur after withdrawing due to food poisoning, and she'd go on to have a rough season that also plagued her with a series of hip and back injuries.

Photo courtesy of Darren Carroll/USGA.

But this was her time. Now healthy and ready to primed to compete, Ganne, ranked 11th in the world, beat No. 14 Anna Davis (2022 ANWA champion) in the Round of 32. Knocked out No. 20 Kary Hollenbaugh of Ohio State in the Round of 16. And advanced to the semifinals after defeating No. 6 Eila Galitsky of South Carolina.

In the semifinals, Ganne was 4 down with seven holes to play. When she stepped on the 18th tee, the match was tied....she won it in 19 holes.

In Sunday's championship match, she took control from the start. A birdie on the first gave her a lead, and she maintained it for most of the day. This was her championship to win, and she executed. Every shot was precise or close to precise. Despite playing 119 holes of golf—she never faltered.

On the closing hole, the par-3 15th, Ganne expertly dropped in a shot that settled about 20 feet from the flag. Her opponent, Brooke Biermann of Michigan State, found the putting surface but gave herself a 40 footer that was a must-make, and when she didn't, Ganne finally had the moment she had dreamed of for years.

"Yeah, winning with a team is so special. There is nothing like it, like college golf. But this is something that has been an individual goal of mine since the I was a little kid," Ganne said.

"I've hit so many putts in my basement pretending that it was to win a U.S. Open or U.S. Amateur or U.S. Junior. To actually have that putt is surreal."

What's next for Ganne? Well she'll certainly enjoy this moment, and will head back to Jersey and spend some time in New York City—her first summer being a 21-year-old in the city. (Oh what I'd give to experience that for the first time again.)

As for golf, Ganne shared, "This is likely my last Women's Amateur, so I really, really wanted to get this done. I can't wait for a great senior year with our squad. Hopefully we have another chance at a national title that slipped away from a us this year."

Cheers to you Megha!