The U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur lost one of its top contenders prematurely on Monday.
Megha Ganne, the second highest-ranked player in the field, was disqualified from the championship after signing for an incorrect scorecard following the first round of stroke-play competition. According to Golf Digest, Ganne mistakenly signed for a first-round 70 instead of a 71.
“The player unknowingly signed her scorecard for a lower score, and under Rule 3.3b (3) was disqualified,” the USGA said in a statement. “She came to us shortly after realizing her mistake.”
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Ganne explained to Golf Digest that she had accidentally signed for a par on the par-4 17th when she had actually made a bogey. She alerted USGA officials soon after she realized the mistake.
“I signed for a 70 instead of a 71, by accident,” Ganne said to Golf Digest. “I checked my hole-by-hole scores but must’ve unknowingly glanced over it. I notified the USGA staff as soon as I saw it incorrect on the leaderboard at lunch.”
The incoming Stanford commit entered the event as the most experienced U.S. Girls’ Junior competitor with four previous starts in the championship, and was on the short list of favorites to win at The Club at Olde Stone, Bowling Green, Ky.
Ganne, ranked No. 16 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, was the low amateur at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open and also helped Team USA to a blowout victory at the Curtis Cup last month at Merion Golf Club.
The U.S. Girls’ Junior field is now down to 155 competitors, with the top 64 advancing to the match-play bracket starting Wednesday. Lauren Zaretsky leads after Round 1 with a five-under 68.