Amateur teen of Indian origin Ganne is T-3 halfway through Women’s US Open

Yuka Saso (left) and Megha Ganne. Pic: USGA

June 5: Meghan Ganne,  an American teen amateur with Indian heritage continued to hold spotlight at the 76th  US Women’s Open with an even par round on the second day and sailed into the weekend rounds in Tied-third place at the Major.

Ganne, 17, who came into the Major after battling through a 3-for-1 play-offs in the qualifiers last month, had three birdies and three pars. The three bogeys came in the last seven holes on 12th, 15th and 18th at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Yuka Saso of the Philippines took the 36-hole lead with rounds of. 69-67 and if she wins on Sunday, she will be of the same exact age as the U.S. Women’s Open’s youngest champion all-time, Inbee Park. Park, who was 19 years, 11 months, 17 days old when she captured this title 13 years ago at Interlachen Country Club outside of Minneapolis. Since then, Inbee, a World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, has captured six additional majors, including a second U.S. Women’s Open title in 2013.

If she wins, it will be Saso’s major No. 1. Her 6-under total of 136 is one stroke better than 2019 champion Jeongeun Lee6.  Two others – American professional Megan Khang and the darling of this competition thus far, 17-year-old New Jersey amateur Megha Ganne – are two strokes back.

Mel Reid, the first round co-leader, slipped to T-6 with a second round of 73 after a first round 73.

Major champion Shanshan Feng is three off the lead at 138, while the aforementioned Park, major champion Lexi Thompson and 18-hole co-leader Mel Reid are tied at 2-under 140.

Megha Ganne isn’t the only amateur enjoying a great week at Olympic. Oklahoma State standout Maja Stark, of Sweden, is tied for ninth at 1-under 141. Last December at Champions Golf Club, Stark finished tied for 13th. Stanford freshman and world No. 2 Rachel Heck (147), who won the NCAA individual title two weeks ago, also made the cut, as did All-American Gurleen Kaur (144).
Ganne, a semi-finalist in the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur and a four-time Drive, Chip & Putt national finalist, received Twitter messages from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy among others. Meanwhile, she’s trying to find time to complete a calculus assignment, as her classes don’t end until June 24.

She’s bidding to join Catherine Lacoste of France (1967), the lone amateur winner of the U.S. Women’s Open.

After shooting a 67 to share the 18-hole lead with Reid, Ganne continued her whirlwind week with an even-par 71, a round that saw her convert a 9-foot par putt on No. 8.

As many as 66 players with 62 professionals and four amateurs made the 36-hole cut of 6-over 147.

Jennifer Kupcho registered the championship’s 32nd known hole-in-one, using a 9-iron on the 134-yard 13th hole.

A Lim Kim (7-over 149) became the first defending champion since Sung Hyun Park (2018) to miss the cut.

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