Gianchandani Victorious in 98th New Jersey Women’s Amateur; Wins Second Title
2023 Women's Amateur Champion, Ami Gianchandani
PRINCETON, N.J. - Ami Gianchandani won her second New Jersey Women’s Amateur Championship on Thursday, August 3 as she defeated Emma Shen, 1-up in the finale at Springdale Golf Club in the 98th edition of the coveted major championship.
“The field is so strong,” Gianchandani reflected after the win. “There’s so many talented golfers here. It's really an honor to win it again.”
Gianchandani, a recent graduate of Yale University, won her first Amateur Championship at Rumson Country Club in 2021. The road to the trophy in 2023 was not easy, but Gianchandani remained patient throughout the four days.
“The key is knowing that you've got that many rounds in front of you at the beginning and just taking it one shot at a time,” said Gianchandani. “You can't get ahead of yourself, especially out here. If you lose focus, you could miss a green or miss a putt that that counts.”
Shen, the 16 seed, made her first appearance in the finals. She took down defending champion Katie Lu, 5&3 in the semifinals. She avenged a loss from last year when she fell to Lu in the quarterfinals at Glen Ridge Country Club.
The two kept it very close the entire match, which came down to the 18th hole.
Shen, an incoming sophomore at Columbia University took an early lead after a birdie on No. 2. Gianchandani tied it back up with an eagle on 4. She grabbed on to her first lead of the match with a birdie on No. 8 and went into the back nine with the advantage. However, Shen would claw back, winning holes 10 and 11 to regain the lead.
Gianchandani, 23, and Shen, 19 would go back and forth the rest of the back nine. The match was tied through the 16th hole, but Gianchandani knocked her approach shot within five feet to win the hole and head into the 18th with a 1-up lead.
“The key there was staying patient,” explained Gianchandani. "She (Emma) wants to win as much as I do. Both of us are firing at pins and taking risky lines all day, so sticking to my game plan, not letting that get ahead of me and making sure I hit every shot with full commitment.”
For Gianchandani, her semifinal match against Claire Lu was highly contested. She gained an early lead over Lu and would remain 1-up through the 17th hole, when she carded a birdie to solidify the win.
The Watchung native is headed to Auburn University in the fall to compete for the Tigers and close out her NCAA career.
“I'm psyched,” Gianchandani expressed. “This was my first win of the summer, so it felt really, really great to win it and hopefully I can continue this momentum going into Auburn.”
Final Match Result
Ami Gianchandani, Watchung Valley Golf Club d. Emma Shen, Edgewood Country Club, 1-up
Semifinal Results
Emma Shen, Edgewood Country Club d. Katie Lu, Forsgate Country Club, 5&3
Ami Gianchandani, Watchung Valley Golf Club d. Claire Lu, Plainfield CC – West 9, 2&1
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