Singapore: Eila Galitsky produced an accomplished final-day performance to claim a decisive victory in the fifth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP).
Keeping control of her emotions, the big-hitting 16-year-old Thai navigated her way around the Singapore Island Country Club’s New Course in four-under-par 68.
In a fitting finale, Galitsky, watched from outside the ropes by her parents and brother, blazed a 375-yard drive at the par-five 18th, setting up a two-putt birdie that sealed a stunning success.
It was a mightily impressive display of front-running from Galitsky whose three-stroke overnight lead was never seriously threatened.
With a 72-hole aggregate of 14-under 274, Galitsky finished five shots clear of second-placed Korean Kim Min-sol, who found water with an aggressive approach at 18 on her way to signing off with a 70.
Three shots further back in a share of third place were Park Ye-ji of Korea, Japan’s Yuna Araki, Sophie Han of Hong Kong, China and New Zealand's Fiona Xu.
Galitsky is the second Thai to have her name inscribed on the WAAP trophy, following Atthaya Thitikul, who triumphed in the inaugural event in Singapore in 2018.
With her victory, Galitsky earns exemptions into three Major championships this year – AIG Women’s Open, the Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship – as well as the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, the 120th Women's Amateur Championship and an invitation to play in this month's Augusta National Women's Amateur.
Showing no signs of nerves, Galitsky, who began the week in 193rd place in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), was a model of consistency, reeling off five pars before picking up her first stroke of the day at the par-four sixth.
Another birdie at 10 extended her advantage to five. Not even a bogey at 14, where she missed a two-footer for par, could upset her rhythm, bouncing back with birdies at 15 and 16 after pinpoint approaches.
A member of the gold medal-winning Thai team at last year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam, Galitsky further underlined her potential by reaching the quarter-finals of the R&A Girls Amateur at Carnoustie in Scotland and finishing tied 19th at The R&A Junior Open.
The WAAP championship was developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation to inspire future generations of women golfers.
The R&A is supported by championship event partners that share its commitment to developing golf in the Asia-Pacific – Rolex, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Hana Financial Group and Samsung.
For more information on the WAAP, visit https://www.randa.org/championships/womens-amateur-asia-pacific-championship
