Seeing double: Former Gamecock Sophia Burnett wins 2 tournaments over 4-day span

Her decisive victory in the South Carolina Women’s Open last Sunday left Sophia Burnett brimming with confidence in looking toward her participation in the LPGA Qualifying Series next month.

Imagine how she felt Wednesday after another impressive triumph, this one in the South Carolina Women’s Amateur.

That’s called seizing an odd scheduling opportunity and pulling off the rarest of accomplishments. Her trust in her game must be off the charts.

“I’ve played very solid, very consistently throughout the year,” Burnett said of her performances that included three top-10 finishes during her final season on USC’s high-powered women’s team and a ninth in the Sea Island Women’s Amateur this summer.

Indeed, she is no stranger to success on the golf course. Her resume’ includes three South Carolina Women’s Amateur titles, participation in the U.S. Women’s Amateur, the U.S. Junior Girls championship and a tie for fifth in her 12-13 age group in the Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Augusta National Golf Club. She also teamed with sister Camila to advance to match play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball.

Burnett surged from behind with a final 4-under-par 67 and posted a three-round total of 208 to win the State Women’s Open at Cobblestone Park. She led all the way in the rain-shorted Women’s Amateur, putting an exclamation point on her victory with a hole-in-one at Colleton River Plantation’s Nicklaus Course.

“Nothing crazy,” she said in recounting her Women’s Open win. “I wanted to keep it simple, fairways and greens, and that’s what I did.”

In addition to adding to her trophy collection, Burnett received the opportunity to compete against pros, an experience she believes will serve her well in the LPGA Qualifying Series.

Her final round that included four early birdies opened a five-shot margin over former Clemson player Katherine Schuster, an amateur, and Lauren Clark, a fledgling professional who played at LSU and made honorable mention All-American this year at Kansas and won the tournament’s pro division.

“The tournament gave me confidence I can compete with pros,” Burnett said.

Almost immediately, she hoisted another trophy after her 6-under 138 for two rounds in the Women’s Amateur. She eliminated any mystery with the ace on the 12th hole in the final round.

“I had 134 yards to the pin and hit a 9-iron,” she said. “I dunked it.”

A bonus: If she remains an amateur, Wednesday’s win earned her an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

She played all sports growing up on Hilton Head Island, and, she said: “It came time to decide. Soccer or golf. I said, ‘Let’s go with golf.’ ”

The decision probably came easily. Dad Jonathan played and coached golf at Francis Marion University, took a shot at the pros and introduced Sophia and sister Camila, a member of the USC team, to the game.

“We were going to play golf,” Sophia said.

She began her college career at Furman before transferring to USC and in the 2024-25 season became an integral part of the Carolina squad that ranked among the nation’s top teams. She had stroke-play finishes of third, tie for fourth and a tie for ninth (in the NCAA Regional), and won two of three matches in the match-play portion of the SEC Championship.

Now, Burnett takes the next step in her golfing life not only with confidence earned on the course but also with memories of a lifetime — two tournament wins in four days.

Chip shots. USC golfer Eila Galitsky placed third in 36-hole qualifying, then advanced to the quarterfinals before falling in the U.S. Women’s Amateur in Brandon Dunes, Oregon. ... In the U.S. Amateur in San Francisco, Frankie Harris (USC) and William Jennings (Greenville/Alabama) advanced to match play but lost in the Round of 64. Others with South Carolina connections who did not qualify for match play included Marek Fleming (USC), Jack Wieler (Bluffton), Jonathan Griz (Hilton Head Island/Alabama), Connor Doyal (Charleston), Sam Jackson (West Columbia), Todd White (Spartanburg) and Chandler Mulkey (Charleston). ... In the SCJGA’s Players Series over Fort Jackson GC’s Wildcat Course, Maddox McCamy (Lexington) won the boys’ division and Hailey Zhao (Bluffton) earned the girls’ title.

This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Seeing double: Former Gamecock Sophia Burnett wins 2 tournaments over 4-day span."