Gianchandani Earns Spot in ANNIKA Development Program
AIKEN, S.C. - Many of her days have begun to look the same lately. Ami Gianchandani, three-time New Jersey Women’s Player of the Year is currently living in South Carolina, pursuing a professional golf career. Many mornings she wakes up around 6 or 7 a.m., stretches, gets a workout in, makes some food and heads to Old Barnwell, a golf course located in Aiken that is home to a slew of Annika Ambassadors from the ANNIKA Development program. Gianchandani spends the day homing in on her craft, performing drills, or grabbing a fellow ambassador and going out on the course for some friendly competition. Every now and then Gianchandani will end her day with some trivia with the other ladies – a newfound interest for the group.
Following a lengthy application process, this past fall Gianchandani packed up her belongings and headed south after receiving the news she’d earned a spot in the prestigious ANNIKA Development Program, founded by the LPGA Hall of Famer, Annika Sorenstam. Players in the program receive access to Old Barnwell’s golf amenities and the ANNIKA Development Program for three years, housing for the first year of the program, a $10,000 stipend each year to help cover tournament fees and associated travel expenses, access to the professional networks of Old Barnwell members and staff, and mentorship from Annika.
Gianchandani has taken full advantage of the program.
“This is incredibly special and meaningful to me, not just because of the grant and the benefits of being part of the program, but to also be associated with something that has Annika’s name on it is really, really cool,” Gianchandani, of Watchung expressed. “She’s still very active in growing the game of women's golf and continues to be a role model despite not playing full seasons of golf anymore.”
With these resources available, Gianchandani, a two-time (2021, 2023) New Jersey Women’s Amateur Champion is now working toward her goal of becoming a professional golfer, with a long term ambition of eventually playing in the LPGA Tour. For now, Gianchandani plans to take it week-by-week, with the intentions on playing on several tours like the NXXT Women’s Pro Golf Tour, the ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour, the Epson Tour and the LPGA Tour.
“I’ll be playing in as much as I can and then trying to create as many opportunities as possible for myself to play in high level tournaments,” Gianchandani added.
The guidance from Annika is a unique facet of the program that not many golfers can tap into.
“We’ve been able to have some conversations with her and ask her questions,” said Gianchandani. "She gives her thoughts on stuff like coaches, caddies, tournament schedules, fitness, managing relationships on tour. It's all of the above that you don't necessarily get the chance to learn about as a rookie or a young pro. She's been able to share a lot of that wisdom with us so far.”
Although New Jersey will always be her first home, the 24-year-old is ambitious and grateful to use this time in South Carolina and in the ANNIKA Development Program to her advantage.
“My first love will always be Northeast and New Jersey golf,” Gianchandani expressed. “I'm still looking forward to being back here in the summer, but having a space that's dedicated to helping me start my career as a pro, especially around four other girls who are doing the exact same thing has been a very unique experience. A lot of times pro golf is pretty lonely, but being able to be a part of that course where there is year-round golf and being able to practice competitively with other players is really cool and a great opportunity that I am fully taking advantage of.”
Gianchandani is currently in Morrocco at the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School, which runs from December 10-12
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