Women's Golf | 9/20/2026 11:00:00 AM

On the final hole at Toftrees Country Club, all eyes were on Saint Francis freshman Ellie Filer. In her first collegiate, event she rose to the top of the leaderboard, even though at the time she didn't know exactly where she stood.

"I actually refused to look at any scoreboard because I knew it would just make me more anxious," Filer said. "The most nervous moment for me was my approach shot on the last hole to get on the green."

She knew she had a chance to win and heard a familiar voice in her head.

"Slow drag back and smooth."

It's a phrase and boost of confidence her dad repeated to her for years.

Filer trusted the swing, hit the shot and finished off a two-round score of 157 to win her first collegiate tournament at Saint Francis.

The first call she made was to her dad.

"He was super excited and very emotional. He said he was so proud of me and how much hard work I've put in to get to this point."

Filer began the final round tied for third place before making her move on the back nine. She finished with 13 pars and seven birdies over the two rounds.

She first picked up a golf club at the age of three. To this day, her dad is still her golfing buddy and mentor.

"He taught me so much not only with my swing but the mental side of golf too."

With dreams of playing on the LPGA Tour, her game began to take shape at nearby Altoona Area High School, where Filer established herself as one of the region's top golfers. She placed at the District 6 Championships all four years and set multiple school records.

Filer chose Saint Francis because of its physical therapy program and the close-knit atmosphere she felt during the recruiting process.

A few years ago, she suffered a hip flexor injury. That experience helped her choose a career path.

"I decided I wanted to help people the way the doctor helped me," she said. "I also love working hands-on and I love working with people."

Filer's only been on campus a few weeks, but she says it's been a perfect fit.

"My teammates are the best support system anyone can ever have," Filer said.

That bond was evident last Monday as her new friends cheered her on and gave her advice on staying calm.

Like many athletes, Filer admits to being a bit superstitious. She can only play with transparent colored tees, normally pink, although she had to settle for blue this past week.

And she keeps one pink golf ball in her bag, like the kind she used when she first picked up the game with her dad.