USC golf freshman validates buildup with tournament win in second college start
Mention Eila Galitsky to USC women’s golf coach Kalen Anderson, and the accolades come quickly and with emphasis. “Extremely talented,” “dynamic” and “wealth of experience” are among the terms she uses to describe the 18-year-old freshman who joined her team for the spring season.
Press releases correctly proclaimed her “highly touted.”
Then, Galitsky finished 34th in her first collegiate tournament.
But she bounced back and validated the endorsements, earning the individual title in the Moon Golf Invitational in Melbourne, Florida in her second college start.
And she did it in style, too. Galitsky overtook the world’s No. 1-ranked women’s amateur, Florida State’s Lottie Woad, down the stretch and won the title in a playoff with a 35-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole.
The triumph earned Galitsky the SEC women’s golf freshman of the week award and boosted her to No. 19 in the women’s world amateur rankings. She’s just behind teammates Louise Rydqvist (12) and Hannah Darling (16) in the world survey.
In becoming the first USC freshman to win a tournament since Pauline Roussin-Bouchard won twice in the 2019-20 season, Galitsky posted a 5-under-par 211 for 54 holes.
Of course, Galitsky’s performance nor Anderson’s praises should be no surprise. At age 16, she finished low amateur in an LPGA major, the Chevron Championship, and placed eighth a year ago in the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She will join Darling and Rydqvist in the Augusta tournament in April.
The Gamecocks, now ranked fifth in the national poll, placed third in the Moon Invitational’s elite field, four strokes behind No. 6 Florida State and one behind No. 9 Wake Forest.
Next up for USC is hosting the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, set for March 3-5 at Long Cove Club on Hilton Head Island. The event, which will be televised on the Golf Channel, features one of the strongest fields of the season with 12 of the 17 teams ranked in the top 25.
Chip shots. ONEflight International, a Denver-based aviation company that provides private jets to members worldwide, has joined Visit Myrtle Beach as co-title sponsor for the PGA Tour’s tournament in Myrtle Beach. The event, scheduled May 8-11 at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, will be named the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic. ... USC’s Marek Fleming earned the SEC’s men’s golf freshman of the week honors for his 6-under-par 210 performance in the Puerto Rico Classic. He posted his second top-20 finish in three career tournaments in helping the Gamecocks to place third in the team competition. ... Junior Lucas Augustsson finished 14th individually and Clemson placed 11th in the Watersound Invitational in Panama City, Florida. ... In the Moon Invitational, Clemson’s women finished 16th. ... Age-group winners in the SCJGA’s One-Day Series at Cat Island Club in Beaufort included Brady Senn (Gilbert, boys’ 13-18), Caitlyn Gaines (Lexington, girls’ 13-18), Mac McGirt (Bluffton, boys’ 12 and under) and Eloise Fetzer (Charleston, girls’ 12 and under). ... The SCGA’s major tournament schedule ramps up with the Partners Championship on March 1-2 at WildeWood Club and Spring Valley CC. Kyle Bearden and Walt Todd Jr. won the 2024 title.
This story was originally published February 20, 2025 at 9:09 AM with the headline "USC golf freshman validates buildup with tournament win in second college start."