Photo by: USGA
Biermann Finishes as Runner-Up at U.S. Women’s Amateur, Capping Off a Week to Remember
8/11/2025 11:50:00 AM | Women's Golf
East Lansing, Mich. – When she was 7-years-old, former Michigan State women's golfer Brooke Biermann was given a dozen yellow golf balls by her grandfather.
Nearly 15 years later, Biermann teed off at Bandon Dunes Golf Club – the favorite club of her grandfather, Bill – in the 125th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship using a yellow golf ball.
He passed away soon after the gift to his granddaughter and in her third career tournament, at the Yorktown Golf Course in Illinois, Biermann made a hole-in-one with one of those balls and that was the start.
Throughout high school, junior golf and college, that's what Biermann has played, a nod to the grandfather that gave her a dozen Callaway Chrome Soft yellow golf balls, including this week in Oregon as she and her caddy, Brooke's father Bill, made it to the championship match of the U.S. Women's Amateur.
"That was when I was seven years old, so I've been playing them basically my whole golf career," Biermann said. "You know, every time I tee it up he's with me, and actually this spot, it was his favorite -- he was a golfer -- favorite golf spot he's ever been to and he told my dad that before he passed away.
"I had to local qualify to get into this, and I told my dad, I want to get out here so bad -- it was my dad's dad -- so you can experience what your dad experienced. Oh, God. Yeah, so but I'm so glad my dad was able to see."
From the start of the U.S. Amateur on Aug. 4, her father, Bill, was by her side, pushing her cart and providing counsel as Brooke tied for 33rd place at 2-under par 142 through two rounds. She then managed through the grind that is match play, winning on Wednesday in the Round of 64, 3&2, and then, perhaps, the most difficult day, winning in 22 holes in the morning on Thursday and then turning around to play in the Round of 16 that afternoon, with a victory in 19 holes.
Biermann won her quarterfinal match on Friday, 3&2, but she went to extra holes in the semifinals – for the third time in five matches – and won in 19 holes.
The championship match was all square through 11 holes before Biermann posted bogies on three-straight holes, something she had not done the entire tournament, and finished the opening 18 holes down 3. She battled in the second 18 but could not cut into Megha Ganne's lead and closed out at 33 holes, falling 4&3.
"I'm going to remember this moment for the rest of my life," Biermann said. "I mean, what a cool spot to be with my family and just, you know, forget the golf. I mean, what a great -- what a trip that I'll always remember. Beautiful Oregon, and, yeah, and then remembering the golf.
"Just having my dad on the bag and relying so hard on him throughout the whole week and trusting him, it just shows our relationship and how well we work together. That doesn't happen in a week. It has taken years and years of focus and grinding."
Biermann was also able to share the weekend with friends, members of the MSU team, including Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, teammate Shannon Kennedy and a host of West Coast Spartans who came to the course.
"My college coach and my teammate flew in, and then my boyfriend flew in last night and slept in his car," Biermann said. "And, you know, there were a lot of Michigan State fans out here. I feel like the staff was so supportive. I felt so welcome the whole week. That's pretty important I feel.
"Shannon (Kennedy) and I have been roommates all four years. They texted me they were coming thankfully because I think I would've been in shock when I saw them."
Despite not winning the championship, it was a strong finish for Biermann in her final amateur competition before entering LPGA Tour Qualifying School this coming fall. Her resume includes reaching the finals of the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur, winning the 2024 Missouri Women's Amateur, winning the 2023 NCAA Palm Beach Regional and earning All-American honors and All-Big Ten Conference honors this year at Michigan State.
"You work really hard, so does everyone, but you work really hard so it feels so good to be in positions like that," Biermann said. "To compete at the highest level and to beat some of the best female golfers in the world head-to-head is such an amazing feeling.
"It sort of the shows that hard work is paying off and dedication to a game that sometimes can be very unforgiving. So I'll take great strides from this and confidence in my game and my work ethic, and I'll take it onto whatever the next thing is and just enjoy from there and try to always be in the mentality of having fun.
"That's what I thought about (toward the end of Sunday's match). Take in the views. Enjoy. Love it."
Nearly 15 years later, Biermann teed off at Bandon Dunes Golf Club – the favorite club of her grandfather, Bill – in the 125th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship using a yellow golf ball.
He passed away soon after the gift to his granddaughter and in her third career tournament, at the Yorktown Golf Course in Illinois, Biermann made a hole-in-one with one of those balls and that was the start.
Throughout high school, junior golf and college, that's what Biermann has played, a nod to the grandfather that gave her a dozen Callaway Chrome Soft yellow golf balls, including this week in Oregon as she and her caddy, Brooke's father Bill, made it to the championship match of the U.S. Women's Amateur.
"That was when I was seven years old, so I've been playing them basically my whole golf career," Biermann said. "You know, every time I tee it up he's with me, and actually this spot, it was his favorite -- he was a golfer -- favorite golf spot he's ever been to and he told my dad that before he passed away.
"I had to local qualify to get into this, and I told my dad, I want to get out here so bad -- it was my dad's dad -- so you can experience what your dad experienced. Oh, God. Yeah, so but I'm so glad my dad was able to see."
From the start of the U.S. Amateur on Aug. 4, her father, Bill, was by her side, pushing her cart and providing counsel as Brooke tied for 33rd place at 2-under par 142 through two rounds. She then managed through the grind that is match play, winning on Wednesday in the Round of 64, 3&2, and then, perhaps, the most difficult day, winning in 22 holes in the morning on Thursday and then turning around to play in the Round of 16 that afternoon, with a victory in 19 holes.
Biermann won her quarterfinal match on Friday, 3&2, but she went to extra holes in the semifinals – for the third time in five matches – and won in 19 holes.
The championship match was all square through 11 holes before Biermann posted bogies on three-straight holes, something she had not done the entire tournament, and finished the opening 18 holes down 3. She battled in the second 18 but could not cut into Megha Ganne's lead and closed out at 33 holes, falling 4&3.
"I'm going to remember this moment for the rest of my life," Biermann said. "I mean, what a cool spot to be with my family and just, you know, forget the golf. I mean, what a great -- what a trip that I'll always remember. Beautiful Oregon, and, yeah, and then remembering the golf.
"Just having my dad on the bag and relying so hard on him throughout the whole week and trusting him, it just shows our relationship and how well we work together. That doesn't happen in a week. It has taken years and years of focus and grinding."
Biermann was also able to share the weekend with friends, members of the MSU team, including Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, teammate Shannon Kennedy and a host of West Coast Spartans who came to the course.
"My college coach and my teammate flew in, and then my boyfriend flew in last night and slept in his car," Biermann said. "And, you know, there were a lot of Michigan State fans out here. I feel like the staff was so supportive. I felt so welcome the whole week. That's pretty important I feel.
"Shannon (Kennedy) and I have been roommates all four years. They texted me they were coming thankfully because I think I would've been in shock when I saw them."
Despite not winning the championship, it was a strong finish for Biermann in her final amateur competition before entering LPGA Tour Qualifying School this coming fall. Her resume includes reaching the finals of the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur, winning the 2024 Missouri Women's Amateur, winning the 2023 NCAA Palm Beach Regional and earning All-American honors and All-Big Ten Conference honors this year at Michigan State.
"You work really hard, so does everyone, but you work really hard so it feels so good to be in positions like that," Biermann said. "To compete at the highest level and to beat some of the best female golfers in the world head-to-head is such an amazing feeling.
"It sort of the shows that hard work is paying off and dedication to a game that sometimes can be very unforgiving. So I'll take great strides from this and confidence in my game and my work ethic, and I'll take it onto whatever the next thing is and just enjoy from there and try to always be in the mentality of having fun.
"That's what I thought about (toward the end of Sunday's match). Take in the views. Enjoy. Love it."
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