Megha Ganne, an Indian-origin golfer and Stanford University sophomore, has emerged as a strong contender for the 2025 Annika Award, which recognises the best women’s college golfer of the year.
Ganne has delivered an impressive performance this season, securing a victory at the Nanea Invitational and recording top-10 finishes in three stroke play events. She has competed in three tournaments so far and is currently ranked No. 6.
The Annika Award, presented by Stifel, is determined through votes from college golfers, coaches, and members of the college golf media. The latest watch list features 20 top players, selected by a panel of Golfweek and Golf Channel reporters.
Among the leading contenders are Maria Jose Marin of Arkansas, ranked No. 1, and USC’s Jasmine Koo, who has already claimed three tournament victories this season. Other standout names include Wake Forest’s Carolina Chacarra (ranked No. 5), South Carolina’s Hannah Darling (ranked No. 10), Ohio State’s Kary Hollenbaugh (ranked No. 20), and Florida State’s Mirabel Ting (ranked No. 3), who has won three tournaments.
Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, Ganne has roots in India through her parents, Sudha and Hari. She initially pursued multiple sports, including tennis and swimming, before fully committing to golf at the age of 12.
The Annika Award is one of the most prestigious honours in collegiate golf, with past recipients achieving professional success. As the season progresses, the competition is expected to intensify, making the race for the title even more challenging.