Meet Susan and Taya Battistella, Birdies 4 Babies Participants

From left: Melinda Bailey, Susan Battistella, Shelly Hummel and Kathy Murch

While playing with Melinda Bailey, Shelly Hummel and Kathy Murch in the 2005 Three Sisters Open golf tournament, Susan Battistella suggested “Birdies 4 Babies” as the name for the informal golfing fundraiser started that summer by herself, Bailey, Hummel, Murch, Joanne Michael and Susan Weir. Earlier this summer, Susan helped stuff 1,000 B4B kits for distribution to Central Oregon golfers. An avid golfer, Susan lives and plays golf at Widgi Creek in Bend.

Taya Battistella (left), Susan’s daughter, is a golf professional on the rise. Last year, Taya played in the LPGA-tour qualifying tournament (Q-School), which was held in Florida in November. She asked friends, family and fans to support Birdies 4 Babies by pledging dollars for every birdie she made during the Q-school event. She helped raise over $1,500 for MountainStar. Winner of a 2006 event on the Cn Canadian Women’s Tour and the 2005 California Women’s Open champion, Taya currently competes in events on the Duramed Futures Tour. Taya will be competing in the sectional qualifying tournament for the LPGA on Sept. 19-22 at the Mission Hills Country Club in Palm Springs.