Stanford star Megha Ganne wins the 2026 Inkster Award, earns a Portland Classic invite and turns pro at the U.S. Women’s Open.
Megha Ganne isn’t easing into professional golf. She’s kicking the door open.
The Stanford senior and four-time All-American has been named the 2026 Inkster Award recipient, a major honor given to the highest-ranked women’s Division I college golfer in her final year of eligibility.
Ganne finished the 2025-26 season as the top-ranked DI women’s college golfer by Clippd, ranked fourth overall, and she currently sits No. 10 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
The award, presented by Workday, is named for LPGA legend and World Golf Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, who starred at San Jose State from 1979-82 before turning professional.
Inkster won 17 individual college titles and became the standard for players who value both elite golf and a full college commitment.
Now Ganne joins that legacy after helping Stanford win the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship last month.
She clinched the winning point for the Cardinal, delivering the second national title of her college career. During the season, she posted one win, four top-10 finishes and six top-20 finishes.
She also won the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur.
“I have followed Megha’s career since she was a junior golfer and throughout her time at Stanford. She has had such a decorated amateur and collegiate career, earned her college degree and excelled on the golf course, helping to lead the Cardinal to two NCAA national championships,” Inkster said. “That says a lot about not only her performance on the course, but also about her goals and passions away from it and putting education as a priority. I look forward to continuing to mentor Megha as she navigates the next stage in her professional and personal journeys.
“I also want to thank the Women’s Golf Coaches Association and Workday for partnering with me on this award,” Inkster continued. “To have a player be honored for her commitment to her school, coaches and her teammates is what this award is all about.”
Ganne will receive a sponsor invitation to the 2026 Standard Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, plus support tied to a two-day mentorship retreat with Inkster in Northern California.
Workday will also provide $50,000 to the Juli Inkster Foundation to help with Ganne’s professional transition and travel expenses.
“I’m thrilled to be the recipient of this year’s Juli Inkster Award presented by Workday and to receive this award,” Ganne said. “Juli is a player I have long looked up to, and I aspire to follow in her footsteps. Thank you to Workday and Juli Inkster for this mentorship and opportunity to help kick-start my professional career.”
Ganne is turning professional this week and making her pro debut at the U.S. Women’s Open. She’ll compete full-time on the Epson Tour in 2026 after earning status through the LPGA Collegiate Advancement Pathway.
“We are thrilled Megha is the 2026 Inkster award recipient. Juli has been a great friend of the program over the past decade, and we admire her character, her career, her leadership, and her love of the game; she is the epitome of a world-class person and athlete,” Stanford coach Anne Walker said.
“Megha will be a fantastic ambassador for the Inkster award. She embodies many of the same characteristics that have made Juli so successful. I do not doubt that the time Juli and Megha spend together will be full of laughter, stories, and gritty golf matches! I’m excited for Megha to have Juli by her side this next year as a mentor, and I’m thrilled for Juli to have Megha representing her, the Inkster Award, and her legacy.”
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