PREVIEW: 3rd NJ Women’s Open Championship at the Bedens Brook Club
SKILLMAN, N.J. – In its third year, the New Jersey Women’s Open Championship will be played at The Bedens Brook Club on August 12-13, hosting an array of talented golfers from across the state and surrounding areas.
This year's championship boasts a strong field which consists of top-tier amateur and professional golfers vying for the coveted title. Rising contenders and first-time competitors will meet with a shared goal of navigating two challenging days of golf in the hopes of engraving their name into New Jersey golf history.
Founded in 1965, The Bedens Brook Club spans approximately 360 acres of land within Somerset County. The course honors its farmland legacy, as some holes exist in the place of what was once corn fields, cattle and sheep farms.
Engineered by Dick Wilson, the layout of the course features challenging greenside bunkers, classically aligned with Wilson’s signature style, and fairways nestled onto a rolling landscape with natural water hazards throughout. The front nine offers open fairways whereas the back nine provides a scenic challenge in the woods.
Bedens Brook, which will play at approximately 6,000 yards, presents the perfect setting for the 3rd Women’s Open where precise shot-making and thoughtful strategy will be on full display throughout the championship.
3rd Women’s Open Championship Program
Format
The Women’s Open is a 36-hole, Stroke Play championship consisting of 18 holes on the first day and 18 holes on the second day. Players will be re-paired for Round 2, based on Round 1 scores, and the champion will be the player with the lowest total 36-hole score. In the event of a tie for the championship, the winner will be determined by a hole-by-hole playoff. The Professionals' purse is $20,000 and the winner's share is $6,000.
Spectators who wish to attend must walk.
Inside the Field
This year's championship includes a diverse and skilled field, ensuring thrilling golf and unforgettable moments. Consisting of 40 amateurs and 17 professionals, the event will provide an exciting opportunity for golfers across the state to showcase their talents.
Player Notes
Meghan Francella, 43, looks to reinforce her 2023 championship with another win at the New Jersey Women’s Open. The LPGA Teaching Professional is a two-time LPGA Tour Winner and was named the 2024-2025 Golf’s Top Teachers to Watch.
Vidhi Lakhawala, 17, is ranked 19th in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, with multiple top-finishes in the 2025 season so far, including wins at the 98th Women’s Western Junior Championship and the Will Lowery Junior Championship. Lakhawala recently made it to the semifinals of the 100th New Jersey Women’s Amateur Championship and has a verbal commitment to play at Wake Forest University in the Fall of 2026.
Ami Gianchandani, 25, became the first player to win three Women’s Player of the Year honors in NJ Golf history after her historic run featuring two Women’s Amateur Championship wins (2021, 2023) in three years. In the 2024 season, Gianchandani was the runner-up at the 99th Women’s Amateur Championship and finished t-3 at the 2nd Women’s Open Championship. Playing out of Watchung Valley Golf Club, Gianchandani looks to add some more hardware to her collection at the 3rd Women’s Open Championship.
Kate Granahan, 31, is a two-time New Jersey Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion (2021, 2023) who is looking to make a strong run in the final tournament of the summer season. Granahan made it to the semifinals of the 2025 Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship before falling to eventual champion Daria Delfino in 19 holes.
Katie Lu, age 22 of Plainsboro, N.J., looks to capitalize off of her win at the 97th Women’s Amateur Championship in 2022, where she defeated Sydney Kuo, 2-up at Glen Ridge Country Club. Lu was also the New Jersey Junior Girls’ Champion in 2020 and is entering her senior year at Michigan State University.
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