PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. \u2013 Megha Ganne, the electric Stanford star with the mega-watt smile, is now a pro.<\/p>\n
Ganne was still in high school when she played in the final group at The Olympic Club five years ago. Now she\u2019s days away from college graduation at Stanford and speeding toward her first tee shot as a professional in the opening round of the 81<\/a>st<\/a> U.S. Women\u2019s Open<\/a> at Riviera Country Club.<\/p>\n \u201cFelt like I was on top of the world,\u201d said Ganne of what it was like as a 17-year-old contending on the biggest stage in women\u2019s golf, \u201cbut I guess it just keeps getting better.\u201d<\/p>\n Ganne is one of four players turning pro this week. She\u2019s joined by USC standout Catherine Park, Louisiana-Monroe graduate Johanna Sjursen, and 19-year-old Siuue Wu, who wrapped up her sophomore year at Florida.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a good week to turn professional with an eight-figure purse on the line and primetime television.<\/p>\n Ganne, the reigning U.S. Women\u2019s Amateur champion who clinched the NCAA team title for Stanford last week, is also the winner of the Juli Inkster Award presented by Workday. The award is given to the highest-ranked college player in her final year of eligibility and comes with a sponsor exemption to The Standard Portland Classic, a $50,000 cash prize and a mentorship retreat with the incomparable Inkster.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s a legend of our game,\u201d said Ganne. \u201cIt\u2019s super cool that she has this award for graduating seniors and shows her commitment to college players and aspiring professionals \u2026 it\u2019s really exciting to feel like you have someone in your corner, especially someone like her.\u201d<\/p>\n Inkster, a seven-time major winner, was a three-time All-American at San Jose State, winning 17 titles during her college career. With Inkster living not far from Stanford\u2019s Palo Alto campus, Ganne has already developed a relationship with the LPGA star.<\/p>\n In addition to Inkster Award, Ganne also topped the LPGA\u2019s LCAP rankings, which ensures immediate Epson Tour status. She\u2019s also exempt into the final stage of LPGA Q-School. In addition to the $50K, Ganne takes an impressive list NIL sponsors with her to the professional ranks, including Ernst & Young, Delta, Mizuho, TaylorMade, Ralph Lauren and Liberty National.<\/p>\n Ganne, who helped the Cardinal win two NCAA titles, struggled earlier in the spring season at her beloved Augusta National Women\u2019s Amateur, missing the cut. She said she has taken positives from the downturn, noting that she\u2019s always wondered how playing poorly in a big event would impact her.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe not fear is the right word, but just curiosity of what that would look like and how that would affect me,\u201d she said. \u201cAt ANWA I learned the answer, and the answer is absolutely nothing. Life goes on.\u201d<\/p>\n A new chapter begins.<\/p>\n