A second-round 2-under 70 was enough for Bailey Tardy (Norcross, Georgia) to stay at the top of the leaderboard Friday at the inaugural Copper Rock Championship. Following Thursday’s 66, Tardy started her second round with eagle, birdie, bogey on No. 1-3. She finished the day with four bogeys, four birdies and one eagle overall. Tardy will tee off in Sunday’s final pairing at 11:42 a.m. MDT.

“An eagle on No. 1 is not easy, especially into the wind,” said Tardy. “I hit a good drive then I wasn’t even going for the pin at all. I was going for the front bunker because I knew it was and easier up and down than the left side of the green. I ended up carrying the bunker and on the back edge of the green and ended up chipping in.”

“I had tough streak with six holes playing dead into the wind. I wasn’t hitting the greens I wasn’t making putts, wasn’t reading the putts well. I felt like I was hitting good putts, but they weren’t going in. Then I hit it pretty close on No. 9 and finally make one. It felt like I missed 3 footers on the last four or five holes, so it was nice to see one finally go in and ‘open the floodgates.’

While she 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, a fire was left inside her. The University of Georgia alumna missed earning her LPGA Tour card last year by $343. Tardy says she continues to get more comfortable out here each week and learn more about her game but the support she has from her mother and college coach have helped her tremendously along the way.

“My mom has been out here with me (as my caddy) since last year and is the backbone of me being out here. I did leave early and even though I wasn’t there all four years they (UGA) still sent me a gift basket showing their love and I get text from my coach every now and then,” said Tardy. “We kind of butt heads in college so for him to reach out really means a lot. Everyone back home really supports me as well and I even have support from players who are my friends out here. It’s nice to have friends that want you to play well when they are competing against you.”

Bailey Tardy Takes Command in Second Round of Copper Rock Championship

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