Emma Talley was all smiles after her 3-under par 69 at the Kroger Queen City Championship Thursday. (Jeff Joiner Photo)
CINCINNATI — When I get a chance to watch Emma Talley play golf, it’s about more than just her scores.
The three-time Kentucky state high school champion from Caldwell County had an opening 3-under par 69 at the LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship at Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati. She birdied her final two holes to offset two bogeys on the back nine and was tied for 19th going into today’s second round. She put together another 3-under 69 Friday and is 6-under going to the weekend and in position for another solid finish.
However, one reason I enjoy watching Talley is the way she approached her job. Talley, 28 , is a people person and cannot turn that off even on the course.
Just like she has every time I have seen her play, she thanked every volunteer she saw working on the course during her five-hour round.
“That’s just the way she is. I don’t think she’ll ever stop doing that,” said Dan Talley, Emma’s father.
Twice during the round she spotted young fans in the fairway watching her play. Each time she took out a golf ball, autographed it and gave it to the child.
At the end of her round, she signed an autograph for every child — and adult — in the autograph pit and did it with a smile. She also made sure to talk to each one.
“That’s just Emma. She’s a talker,” said her mother, Jennifer Talley.
Ryne Burnett, PGA lead assistant golf pro at Kenwood, is a western Kentucky native who played in some of the same tournaments as Talley growing up. He came on the course to watch her play and also tell Dan Talley how impressed everyone at Kenwood Country Club had been with her.
“I caught up with her Tuesday (during practice) and was surprised she remembered me,” Burnett told Dan Talley. “But everyone who has had contact with her just loves her. She’s been great.”
Talley is 70th on the points list this year with 316 points and 87th on the money list with $181,352. She has secured her LPGA card for another season. She has played in 20 events, third most of any player on tour, with eight tournaments left on the schedule.
After a rough stretch where she missed six of seven cuts, she was eighth two weeks ago at the CP Women’s Open and was 38th last week in the Dana Open. Now she’s opened with a round that included five birdies and two near holes-in-one on par 3’s.
Talley, a former NCAA champion at Alabama, has changed her caddie recently and her father says that seems to have helped her.
Audrey Gerdes is in her 31st year on tour and most recently had worked for Kim Kaufman. She took over Talley’s bag at the CP Women’s Open.
“They have very similar personalities and so far have just clicked well together,” Dan Talley said.
