Eila Galitsky’s goal after Augusta: Help USC women’s golf repeat as SEC champs
Eila Galitsky needed a 10-footer to fall.
One more birdie to make the cut. One more clutch putt to earn another round at Augusta National. One more red number to give the South Carolina sophomore a chance — and, boy, after last year, a chance might have been enough.
In the final round of last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA), Galitsky dominated the most famous course in America, shooting the low round of the day — a 6-under 66 that gave her a T-4 finish.
It’s unknown if Galitsky, who’s played in the ANWA four times, could’ve gone low enough in 2026 to get into contention because, well, the 10-footer didn’t drop. The Augusta National Women’s Amateur includes two rounds at Champions Retreat Golf Club before the final round at Augusta National for those who make the cut.
The cut line was 1-under. Gatlisky missed it by one stroke.
“I mean, it sucks,” Galitsky said Friday, minutes after playing a practice round at Augusta National. “But you know, I gave it a run, and that’s all I could ask for.”
What she really wanted was another crack at Augusta National during competition. (Arkansas junior Maria Jose Marin won this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur.)
“I love this golf course. To me, it’s easier than Champions (Retreat),” she said. “I just can’t wait for the day that we might get to play here all three rounds. That would be awesome.”
The good news: For the first time since his initial ANWA appearance in 2023, Galitsky could be a fan on the tournament’s final day. An afternoon around Augusta National hanging with her teammates, not thinking about her own golf game. Or, better said: Hopefully not thinking about her golf game.
“Thinking is not my strong suit,” she said Friday. “I’m more of a doer.”
Perhaps that explains where her freshman season at South Carolina was so marvelous. She moved to Columbia from Thailand, settling in a place where everything was brand new. Because she didn’t know what to expect, she didn’t have to think as much. She just played golf ... as she always has.
The result was one of the best Gamecock golf seasons ever. Led by seniors Hannah Darling, Louise Ryvidquist and Galitsky, the South Carolina women’s golf team won their second SEC title in program history. The freshman won all three of her match-play matches and went on to log individual top-five finishes at the SEC Championship, NCAA Regionals and NCAA Championship.
This year, with Galitsky assuming a much larger role following graduation for Darling and Ryvidquist, she’s admittedly taken a slight step back. In eight events this year, she’s logged four Top-10s and one Top-5 finish.
“It’s not been a great year for my golf, I have to admit,” Galitsky said. “I’ve not played the way I was hoping to play or know that I can, so I’m just hoping to turn it around any time soon.
“But I just think there’s no element of surprise anymore,” she continued. “I know my way around, and it’s more responsibility I feel like because I’m not a freshman. A lot of people expect a lot more from me — so yeah, it’s just been a little tough.”
That’s a lot to think about ... especially with the SEC Championship is less than two weeks away. Of course, for the Gamecocks to have any shot at repeating, Galitsky will have to play exceptionally. She knows that. She just doesn’t want to think about it — at least, not right now.
“I don’t really want to think the next few days about golf,” she said. “What I really need, I think, is to just take a couple of days off and just really reset. Have good time with my friends and just step away for a couple of days to just get a fresh mind.”
This story was originally published April 4, 2026 at 6:12 PM.
