USA player Bailey Tardy flashes the peace sign as she and teammate Monica Vaughn head to the clubhouse after their 2 and 1 victory at the 17th hole during afternoon four-ball at the 2016 Curtis Cup at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club near Dublin, Ireland. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)
The United States failed to retain the Curtis Cup, but may have discovered a new standout in Bailey Tardy.
The rising sophomore at the University of Georgia was 3-2 in the match at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club in Ireland. Tardy and teammate Monica Vaughn were undefeated the first day, winning their foursomes match 1 up and winning their four-ball match 2 and 1. On Saturday, Tardy and Vaughn lost their foursomes match 3 and 2 and, paired with Mariel Galdiano, lost the four-ball match 3 and 2.
She finished the competition by defeating Charlotte Thomas of England 4 and 3 on Sunday. Tardy played the round in 3-under, with concessions from her opponent.
“Honestly I didn’t wake up with the alarm today,” she said. “We were leaving at 8 and I woke up at 6. I was just so ready to get out here and fight.”
Tardy, who has already qualified for next month’s U.S. Women’s Open, was still seething about receive a slow-play penalty in Saturday’s four-ball match.
It was only the third GB&I victory in the biennial competition over the last 20 years, two of which have come in the Republic of Ireland. GB&I took the 1996 Match at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, then endured a seven-Match losing streak to the Americans before winning again in 2012 at The Nairn Golf Club in Scotland. That Match saw GB&I rally on the final day for a one-point decision.
On Sunday, the home team came into the last eight singles matches with a four-point cushion, thanks to a sweep of the three four-ball matches on Saturday when GB&I shot a combined 20 under par.
