KELLY Tidy is fired up and hungry for success after going agonisingly close to a maiden victory on the European women’s professional tour.

The 22-year-old golfer, from Harwood, finished second at the Association Suisse de Golf Ladies Open in Switzerland on Sunday, finally losing out to 2012 Curtis Cup team-mate Amy Boulden on the sixth extra hole of a sudden death play-off.

Tidy finished the 54-hole event at the Gams course on seven under, leading the field home with a round of three under par on the final day to tie with Boulden, from Wales, and young Scot Sally Watson.

“I went into the week with no expectation at all, I was going to enjoy the event and see what happened, but it turns out my game is good enough and ready to compete with these girls on tour,” said Tidy, who managed just three events last year in her debut season on the LET Access Series – the second tier of the women’s tour – before being sidelined with a painful arm condition.

The former British and English ladies amateur champion steadily made her way through the field, shooting two-under in each of the opening two rounds.

She then made up two shots on Boulden and one on Watson on the final day, making a birdie on the 18th hole to make the play-off.

Watson fell at the first extra hole before Tidy hit her second shot out of play on the sixth to hand Boulden victory.

But she believes the defeat will stand her in good stead.

“I didn’t push anything,” she said. “I played simple golf, struck the ball well and made a lot of good putts, especially on the final day.

“I was extremely happy with my result and the fact I finished second leaves hunger in the belly to go out and do one better next time.”

Tidy’s next event is the Kristianstad Ahus Ladies PGA Open in Sweden next week, May 15-17.