
(Getty Images photo)
Four down after just six holes against Stacy Lewis on Thursday, Emma Talley put together a rally that saw her earn what could be a crucial tie in the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play in Las Vegas.
The tie means that Talley will win her group with a victory over Lauren Stephenson Friday on the last day of round-robin competition.
Talley is the only golfer in her four-person group that does not have a loss after two days. Talley is 1-0-1 while Stephenson and Jennifer Kupcho are both 1-1. Lewis is now 0-1-1.
Talley defeated Kupcho 2 and 1 in Wednesday’s action at Shadow Creek Golf Course, getting off to a hot start and holding on late.
On Thursday, it was Lewis that had three birdies early while going 4 up through six holes.
Talley recorded birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 to get within 2 down at the turn.
Talley twice got to within one hole on Nos. 13 and 15, but both times Lewis took the next hole to get back to 2 up in the match.
But Talley won the par-3 17th hole with a par, then birdied the par-4 18th hole to get all square and earn the tie.
Only the group winner will advance to the round of 16 Saturday morning when the event turns into a single-elimination competition. The quarterfinals are set for Saturday afternoon with the semifinals, final and third-place matches on Sunday.