Bailey Tardy fired a last spherical 7-under 65, incomes her first victory on the LPGA Tour at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course in China. She grew to become the primary American to win the Blue Bay LPGA title, which she did in record-breaking fashion.
Her 19-under 269 marked the bottom 72-hole rating within the historical past of the occasion. Tardy smashed Minjee Lee’s 13-under file, which she set in 2016.
The previous Georgia Bulldog posted a 68-70-66-65 to beat Sarah Schmelzel by 4 pictures.
When you had been sleeping, Bailey Tardy determined to spring ahead and seize her first LPGA profession victory in spectacular style. A final-round 65 resulted in a 4-stroke win‼️#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/Aatux9aWvP
— Georgia Ladies’s Golf (@UGAWomensGolf) March 10, 2024
She needed to struggle off fairly just a few sturdy gamers, together with Lydia Ko, to earn this victory.
“Numerous feelings proper now. Numerous arduous work and simply a number of doubt that was in my head that I could possibly be at this stage and win. That is particular,” Tardy mentioned. “My ball putting was fairly good all day lengthy, and I made a number of actually good method pictures on the again 9, so I feel that basically put me ready to attain the best way I did at present.”
On Sunday, Tardy recorded six birdies, an eagle, and one bogey. She began her spherical with seven pars. Then, she gained momentum when she made an unbelievable 51-foot eagle putt on the par-5 eighth.
“I obtained off to a gradual begin on the entrance 9 and stayed affected person on the market. I can not say that I awoke at present understanding I used to be going to shoot 65 or understanding I wanted to go that low to win,” Tardy mentioned.
“The leaderboard was stacked, and the situations had been windy. I am simply pleased with myself and the way I dealt with myself.”
Her lone bogey got here on the tenth, but it surely did not section her, as she made 5 birdies in her last eight holes.
This victory is her first for the reason that 2021 Copper Rock Championship on the Epson Tour. She needed to struggle to get her LPGA Tour card after foregoing her senior 12 months at Georgia to show professional in 2019. The 27-year-old performed on the Epson Tour till 2022, when issues lastly paid off for her.
Tardy completed second on the LPGA Q-Collection in 2022 to achieve membership. She capped off her rookie season at Pebble Seaside Golf Hyperlinks by ending tied for fourth on the U.S. Ladies’s Open.
Nevertheless, she doubted a win on the LGPA Tour would come to fruition.
“It was a number of self-reflecting attempting to determine if I used to be even ok to be on the LPGA, if I wished it sufficient,” Tardy defined. “The life on the highway isn’t for everyone, and so I simply did not know if this was the career for me. Now that I am an LPGA winner, I am so glad I caught to it. This can be a dream come true.”
Tardy grew to become the second American to win this season on the LPGA Tour after Nelly Korda received the LPGA Drive On Championship. She can also be the third participant to earn her first Tour victory on the Blue Bay LPGA, becoming a member of Lee-Anne Tempo in 2014 and Gaby Lopez in 2018.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. For extra golf protection, remember to comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may also comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
