1 day Ago
Another Gamecock added her name to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur record books. Last year, senior Hannah Darling set a record for most birdies in an opening round at Champions Retreat with eight in her 6-under-par 66 first round. It’s Eila Galitsky’s turn this year after setting the record for the lowest-scoring front nine at the Augusta National Golf Club in tournament history after going out 31.
She also tied the record for the lowest-scoring final round with a 6-under 66 on April 5, a score good enough to tie for fourth place. She said she knew she was going to play well early on. “With how I was hitting the ball today, I'm going to be honest, I should have been way lower than 6-under,” Galitsky said.
“I missed so many easy putts out there. I hit such great shots today. I don't even know what to say, I think I was just so in the zone today.
It felt awesome out there.” She came into the final round in the middle of the pack at 2-under overall before a birdie-birdie-eagle on Nos. 6-8 sent her skyrocketing up the leaderboard at 7-under.
Despite running into some trouble with a bogey to start her back nine, she quickly righted the ship with birdies on 13 and 15. Her biggest goal coming into her second appearance at Augusta National was to keep the ball dry on the infamous 12th hole for the first time, a feat she accomplished on the difficult par-3. As her tee shot landed safely on the green, she let out a sigh of relief.
“I've never been dry on that shot, so my only thought was anywhere I can hit the second shot, not like a pitchy third shot on the other side of the pond,” Galitsky said. “I was trying to hit a high cut into it but it kind of just stayed dead straight. That's why it was a little long.
It was all I really hoped for, just anything on the green or anything dry.” The 18-year-old came into ANWA off of a collegiate golf season for the first time and had all the Gamecocks behind the ropes cheering her on throughout the day. Her 8-under finish was also the lowest score of any South Carolina player in this event.
She said their constant support during the tournament has made a huge difference in her mindset on the course compared to her last two appearances. “It's awesome,” she said. “I'm so happy the team got to watch, got to come and support.
Honestly, I think that's what made me feel so comfortable out here is just having their support, and playing Augusta National is great, but when you play 6-under par, I think it's a bit better.” The top-ranked Gamecocks are set to go right into the SEC championship in the coming weeks and then on to the NCAA playoffs. Galitsky said she’s planning to go back to the drawing board and work on her putting ahead of her first collegiate postseason with South Carolina.
While she made an impression on Augusta National following her co-eighth place finish in 2024, Galitsky said this year’s experience has left her wanting more. “Honestly, more disappointed than proud right now and very hungry,” she said. “Yeah, I just had so many putts.
Like the first four holes, I think I had birdie putts inside 10 feet, and I missed all of them. It's disappointing, but you know, I still played great.” After being one of the first groups to finish up for the day, she joined the rest of her team to watch senior Louise Rydqvist finish her final ANWA appearance before turning pro over the summer.
Like Galitsky, she came into the final Saturday 2-under par but struggled through her front nine with two bogeys. It continued to go downhill with a double-bogey on the 10th and another bogey to end the day. Despite the 4-over round for the Swede, she improved her score from last year’s tournament by two strokes to finish tied for 27th place.
She said her biggest takeaway from her pair of appearances at the tournament will extend beyond how well she played on the course. “It's so many memories,” Rydqvist said. “My backpack of memories is stacked from here.
It's a week that I'll remember for the rest of my life, both times I've been here. Unfortunately, it's going to be my last as I'm turning pro this summer. Going to bring this experience with me forever.
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