Holmdel's Ganne moves onto U.S. Women's Amateur Semifinals

Megha Ganne of Holmdel, who at age 15 is compiling one of the truly historic seasons of any New Jersey player, has reached the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship after defeating Caroline Cabasas of California, 3 & 2, in the quarterfinal round at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Mississippi.

Scoring

Ganne, who won the NJSGA Junior Girls Championship in 2018, began the 2019 season as a runner-up in her age division in the Drive, Chip and Putt at the Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters. She was the qualifying medalist for the U.S. Women’s Open conducted by the NJSGA at Forsgate Country Club and a qualifying co-medalist for the U.S. Women’s Amateur, where she recorded a hole-in-one at Raritan Valley Country Club. The rising high school sophomore also played in the U.S. Girls' Junior in late July for a third straight year.

After needing extra holes to win both her Round of 32 and Round of 16 matches on Thursday, Ganne was able to advance through the quarterfinals in relatively quicker fashion. She fell behind Canales for the only time in the match after losing the first hole, but reeled off wins on the second, third, and fourth holes to take a 2-up lead. Holding onto a 2-up lead going to 9th hole, Ganne fired consecutive birdies on the back-to-back par five ninth and tenth holes to extend her lead to 4-up.

Canales responded with birdies on the the 11th and 12th holes, cutting Ganne's lead in half. After tying the 13th hole with par fours, Ganne won the 14th hole with a par four to take the lead, 3-up. The pair then tied the 15th and 16th holes, with Ganne's par on the par-4, 16th deciding the match.

“I think I’ve been playing well all summer. It’s all coming together for me this week,” said Ganne, who turns 16 on March 5. 

“I’ve been down a lot, but I never quit. I feel that I’m meant to be here. This is the best I’ve done in in a tournament and I’m really excited. Tomorrow, I’ll try to do the same things I’ve been doing, just, play my own game. The rest will come as it should.”

Ganne's semifinal match against No. 13 seed Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland begins Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m., and will be televised on FS1. The other semifinal features No. 15 seed Andrea Lee of California vs. No. 6 seed Gabriela Ruffels of Australia.

The semifinal winners, who receive automatic berths into the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open, will play a 36-hole championship match on Sunday.