Tardy named to Curtis Cup team

Bailey Tardy

Bailey Tardy

Success continues to come quickly for Bailey Tardy, the up-and-coming golfer from Norcross.

Tardy, a freshman at the University of Georgia, just learned she had been named to the U.S. Curtis Cup team that will compete against the Great Britain and Ireland team in Dublin this summer.

“It’s been a goal of mine forever,” Tardy said. “I’m so psyched to go over there and represent my country. It’s a great honor.”

Tardy is the No. 7 ranked amateur in the world; three other team members are also in the top 10 and all eight women chosen are among the top 30.

Tardy’s selection was a no-brainer. She won the 2015 North and South Women’s Amateur in 20 holes after rallying from two down with two holes to play to defeat Californian Bethany Wu, who will be one of Tardy’s teammates on the Curtis Cup squad.

She participated in a Curtis Cup practice session in San Diego over the Christmas break and probably sealed her place there.

“I think I played pretty well that week,” she said. “They just wanted to see who could have a good time and play competitively.

She will take part in another practice session in March in Houston.

Tardy reached the third round of the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur and qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. She won her first college event for the Bulldogs in her fourth start.

The U.S. won the 2014 matches 13-7 in St. Louis and leads the series 28-7-3. Other notables who have played in the Curtis Cup include U.S. Open champions like  JoAnne Carner, Paula Creamer, Juli Inster, Hollis Stacy Michelle Wie and Patty Sheehan.

Other members of the United State team are:

  • Sierra Brooks, 17, of Sorrento, Fla.
  • Mariel Galdiano, 17, of Pearl City, Hawaii
  • Andrea Lee, 17, of Hermosa Beach, Calif.
  • Mika Liu, 17, of Beverly Hills, Calif.
  • Hannah O’Sullivan, 17, of Chandler, Ariz.
  • Monica Vaughn, 21, of Reedsport, Ore.
  • Bethany Wu, 19, of Diamond Bar, Calif.

“These eight young women who will represent the United States in the 39th Curtis Cup Match are among the most talented players in the world,” said Diana Murphy, USGA president. “The USGA is proud to have them as ambassadors for the game, and we wish them the best of luck as they prepare for the competition in June.”

The Curtis Cup Match is a biennial international women’s amateur golf competition between eight-player teams from the United States of America and Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I). It consists of six foursomes (alternate-shot) matches, six four-ball matches and eight singles matches over three days of competition. The USGA’s International Team Selection (ITS) Committee selects the USA Team, while the Ladies’ Golf Union selects the GB&I Team.

“The opportunity to select the members of this team was one we undertook with great care,” said Tom Hough, of Atlanta, who is in his first year as chairman of the ITS Committee and third year on the USGA Executive Committee. “We are confident that, while these players will be fierce competitors, they will also embody the tradition of friendship set forth by Margaret and Harriot Curtis in 1932.”

 

About the Author

sawtrey
Hello and Welcome to The Georgia Golfer I'm Stan Awtrey, the writer and administrator for this site. I love to watch and play, although my 19 handicap index would indicate that I'm better at watching. I've played more than 200 different courses over the years, including Augusta National (twice).