PREVIEW: 2nd Women’s Open Championship at Knickerbocker Country Club
Knickerbocker Country Club to Host 2nd Women’s Open Championship
TENAFLY, N.J. - Knickerbocker Country Club welcomes the 2nd New Jersey Women’s Open Championship, as the state’s top amateur golfers and professionals will vie for the NJSGA’s newest championship, August 12 and 13.
A year after playing the inaugural event at Montclair Golf Club, Knickerbocker will be yet another phenomenal venue for both amateur and professional female golfers. Having hosted the Inaugural New Jersey Open in 1921 and the Centennial Open in 2020, Knickerbocker, designed by Donald Ross and later by Herbert Strong, has stood the test of time. The distinctive characteristics of Knickerbocker have led to major moments at the north Jersey club. Overall, Knickerbocker has served as host to seven NJSGA championships.
The NJSGA will be adding articles, photo galleries, videos, and other content before and during the New Jersey Women’s Open on the Championship HQ page.
Inside the Field
Although in its infancy, the NJSGA accepted a record 62 entries into the championship. The championship is open to New Jersey amateur golfers with a Handicap Index not exceeding 9.6 as well as professional golfers.
Set up at more than 6,000 yards, the 42 local amateurs and 20 female professionals, made up primarily of club and mini-tour professionals, will face a fierce challenge.
Spectators are encouraged to attend, and admission throughout the event is free of charge. Use of carts will not be permitted.
Player Notes
A collection of notable players in the 2nd Women’s Open Championship:
Monet Chun, 23, of Canada is in her first season playing as a professional. 2024 Big Ten Golfer of the Year and two-time Big Ten Individual Champion, Chun, was ranked as high as 58th in the WAGR. As a professional, she finished 6th in the ORORO PGA Women's Championship of Canada and most recently on the LPGA Tour in the Canadian Women’s Open.
Meaghan Francella, 42, is returning to the Garden State after claiming the Inaugural title in 2023 at Montclair Golf Club. Currently an LPGA Teaching Professional at Philadelphia Cricket Club, Francella has won twice on the LPGA Tour and played in the Dana Open on Tour in July.
Samantha Galantini (a), 19, is coming off a trip to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in Oklahoma, Galantini, a rising sophomore at Quinnipiac University won the 58th Mixed Pinehurst Championship the first week of August alongside her brother, Tyler.
Ami Gianchandani (a), 24, finished as runner-up and low amateur in the Inaugural Women’s Open at Montclair Golf Club last season. A two-time New Jersey Women’s Amateur Champion (2021, 2023), Gianchandani most recently finished as runner-up this past June at Watchung Valley Golf Club. She’s currently ranked 333 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
Megan Meng (a), 17, is headed to Northwestern University in the fall and is currently the 19th ranked junior girl in the country and 402nd in the WAGR Rankings. The Pennington native is coming off appearances in the Girls’ Junior PGA Championship and the 75th U.S. Girls’ Junior.
Samantha Morrell, 33, an LPGA Teaching Professional, Morrell serves as lead instructor at the Durland Golf School at Naples Grande in Florida as well as assistant professional at Fenway Golf Club in New York. 2023 Connecticut Women’s Open Champion, Morrell also has four LPGA major championships under her belt, competing in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2022, 21, 23 and 24.
NJSGA Social Media
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