Lakhawala Wins Second New Jersey Junior Girls' Title
NEWARK, N.J. – Vidhi Lakhawala captured the 72nd New Jersey Junior Girls' Championship for the second time in her career, defeating Anna Park, 7 and 6, in Wednesday's championship match at Weequahic Golf Course.
Lakhawala, 18, wasted little time taking control of the match. After tying the opening hole, she reeled off victories on Nos. 2, 3 and 4, highlighted by a birdie to build an early advantage.
She continued to pour on the pressure by winning holes 8, 9 and 10 before closing out the championship in style with another birdie on the 304-yard, par-4 12th hole. Overall, Lakhawala carded four birdies en route to the victory.
"I took a lot of confidence from the last two matches, and I felt pretty comfortable with my game and all the shots I hit," said Lakhawala. "Going into the round today, trusting myself and trusting my numbers, and trusting the shots, and knowing that I can make putts and hit shots under pressure."
The victory adds to an already impressive season for Lakhawala. She recently captured the Nelly Invitational for her third AJGA title and currently sits No. 161 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).
With the championship, Lakhawala earned an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship, set for July 13-18 at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C. It will mark her second appearance in the prestigious championship.
"I'm really grateful to get an exemption into the U.S. Girls. That'll definitely be one of the last junior events I play in," Lakhawala said. "I'm really excited to compete again. I played in the U.S. Girls' Junior a couple years ago, and I really enjoyed that experience, so I'm excited to tee it up at the event again and hopefully make a run over there."
Following the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship, Lakhawala will begin the next chapter of her golf career at Wake Forest University.
"I'm super excited to be heading to Wake Forest this fall," said Lakhawala. "Competing on a team and being surrounded by great players who all have like-minded mindsets and goals that we want to strive for, so I'm really excited to be in that environment."
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