WAAP Champion Eila Excited at Return to Links Golf

London, England: Eila Galitsky is relishing the prospect of returning to links golf at this week’s 120th Women’s Amateur Championship.

Since winning the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) in Singapore in March, the 16-year-old Thai has appeared at Augusta National and made her Major championship debut among the professionals.

Now she’s back in the United Kingdom, ready to mount a challenge for victory at Prince’s in the southern English county of Kent in an event in which she participated for the first time in 2022.

Galitsky said: “I’m looking forward to it because last year was a really good experience for me.

“I missed the cut right on the number so that was kind of sad. Hopefully this year I can do better and gain more experience as it’s a strong field.”

Also a quarter-finalist in last year’s R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship at Carnoustie and a participant in the R&A Junior Open at Monifieth, the Thai enjoys the quirks of links golf.

She said: “You need great variety of shots, certainly around the greens. I’m confident right now, playing well and I feel good about my shots. I’m just hoping the weather is kind!”

In beating Korean Kim Min-sol by five shots in the WAAP at Singapore Island Country Club, Galitsky earned places in the Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open in August at Walton Heath. She also played in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April.

She said: “Winning in Singapore allowed me to play at Augusta and in my first Major – the Chevron Championship. I finished well in the Chevron (tied 28th) and those experiences have been amazing.

“I’m looking forward to playing in the AIG Women’s Open most of all. It’s a career-goal of mine to win that championship – maybe this year!”

Last month, Galitsky won an individual silver medal and team gold at the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, helping her to break into the top-100 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.