History was made Saturday in the Irvin Cobb Golf Championships when Emma Talley became the first female to play in the Paducah tournament. Talley, an LPGA professional who was a three-time state champion at Caldwell County and NCAA medalist at the University of Alabama, finished in a tie for ninth in the professional division while playing from the same tees as the men.
After shooting a 1-over-par 72 on Saturday, Talley carded a 1-under 70 on Sunday at Paxton Park Golf Course. That left her at even-par 142 for the 36-hole event.
However, the big story for Talley was breaking a barrier in the event, which began in 1937.
Talley’s groups drew by far the biggest galleries of the two-day event.
She was consistent throughout Sunday’s final round. Her only blemish was a three-putt bogey on the par-4 4th hole. But she followed that by running in a 10-footer for birdie on the par-3 5th hole.
Talley birdied the par-5 15th hole on the back nine, reaching the green in two and two-putting.
Besides breaking the gender barrier in the Irvin Cobb Championships, the event served as a tuneup for Talley’s return to the LPGA Tour in two weeks.
The LPGA will play its first event since February when it holds the LPGA Drive On Championship July 31-Aug. 2 in Toledo, Ohio.
