A final-round 2-under 70 proved to be the winning formula for Bailey Tardy (Norcross, Georgia) as she secured her first professional victory Saturday afternoon at Copper Rock Golf Course by finishing -10 overall in the inaugural Copper Rock Championship.
“I am super excited; this has been three years coming. Last year I came so close and to finally come out on top means a lot,” said Tardy. “Having my mom out here on the bag, it’s a familiar face and someone to joke around with. She doesn’t know a whole lot about golf so it’s nice to have her to lighten the mood. On No. 16 I think I had to go to the bathroom, and she asked, ‘What do you want to eat for dinner tonight.’ I said, ‘I am out here trying to win a tournament.’ She really takes the pressure off and reminds me I am out here to have fun.”
Tardy was named the 2020 Epson Rising Star for claiming four top-10 finishes, including a career-best runner-up in the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at Battle Creek Country Club. The University of Georgia alumna had another end of year title in mind, but she missed earning her LPGA Tour card last year by $343.
“After the Tour Championship I was kind of heartbroken,” said Tardy. “I took a six-week break from Thanksgiving to January. I just needed to reset. Every time I went to the golf course I was think about shots I should have or could have hit differently or putts I could have made and I wasn’t getting much practice done. I took that time to focus on myself and my mental game and how to better myself for the 2021 season and I think I have done a pretty good job.”
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