Vidhi plans to join Wake Forest University in 2026
17-year-old Vidhi Lakhawala, an Indian-origin golfer from New Jersey, made her LPGA Tour debut at the US$2 million Kroger Queen City Championship, carding rounds of 74–71 but missed the cut by just two strokes.
Lakhawala arrived with strong junior credentials—ranked 8th on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) standings and already a two-time winner this season, including the Women’s Western Junior Championship in June and the Will Lowry Junior Championship in March. Her Western Junior victory at Maketewah Country Club, just a few miles from the LPGA venue, came after she never let an opponent reach the 17th hole in her first three matches and trailed for only four holes across the entire event.
The Cincinnati start was special for more than golf. Vidhi, who will join Wake Forest University in 2026, said playing her first LPGA event in a city where she’d enjoyed past success “holds a lot of really great memories.” She relished learning from professionals, noting how inspiring it was to watch veterans prepare and practice. Meeting stars like Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko was a “super cool” moment, and she even signed autographs for young fans—her first “pinch-me” experience.
While acknowledging nerves on the first tee, Lakhawala said the week gave her confidence: “I know I can win and perform under pressure. Bringing that to a bigger stage is important.”
As more and more Indian Americans join the pro ranks in America, following the success of Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala on the PGA Tour, India Golf Weekly looks forward to keeping our readers updated.
Watch her interview here – Vidhi Lakhawala on Her LPGA Debut: “It’s Always Been a Dream”