U.S. AMATEUR FOUR-BALL

May 25, 2021

Leopoldo Herrera

Kiko Francisco Coelho

Chambers Bay

Quick Quotes

Q. You guys took out the medalists, No. 1 seeds. I'm sure you knew these guys.

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: Yeah. Good friends.

Q. Have you played with or against them before?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: Yeah, I've played them before in tournaments. They're really good players.

Q. Do you feel like you guys were the underdogs out there going up against the top seeds?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: I mean, I just felt like we have such a solid team that we don't feel like underdogs. I know they were better players than us, but we felt like we could go out there and definitely give them some competition.

KIKO FRANCISCO COELHO: Yeah, we started off really well, making a lot of birdies in the beginning, and we just kept our lead, increased it in the middle of the round and just --

Q. How did you guys form your partnership? I guess just playing junior golf in Florida?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: So we actually played the Florida Boys' Junior and he came first and I came in second, and we had such a good time, we built a really good relationship, and he called me up, he's like, let's play this, man, like I'm down. Because I know he's a great player, and I knew this team was going to be hard to beat, and it's been like that this week.

Q. You're from Venezuela?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: Yeah. Well, I'm from Miami.

Q. Where were you born?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: In Miami. My parents are from Venezuela.

Q. Were you born in Portugal?

KIKO FRANCISCO COELHO: Yeah, I was born in Portugal.

Q. When did you move to the States?

KIKO FRANCISCO COELHO: About two years ago.

Q. There's a possibility you'll be playing a guy you'll be playing college golf with next four years in the next round. How do you know Preston and obviously Luke is going to go there in '22.

KIKO FRANCISCO COELHO: Yeah, we're pretty good friends. Yeah, we played together a couple of times, and should be a lot of fun tomorrow. Just going to go out and have fun and hopefully play well again and get it done.

Q. Were you on recruiting trips?

KIKO FRANCISCO COELHO: No, we didn't get the senior visits this year because of COVID.

Q. Have you talked much with Preston?

KIKO FRANCISCO COELHO: Yeah, we talk a little bit.

Q. Will there be much chatter tomorrow?

KIKO FRANCISCO COELHO: Yeah, we're going to play a team match against them, but of course --

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: There's a little chatter here and there, but at the end of the day we're here to get the job done.

Q. Was there any part of the match today where you felt like this was a key hole or this was a key moment that carried you over the top?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: Yeah. Honestly the first three or four holes to get on top and just to keep tying them with birdies, and I think like the biggest key was winning 10, and then I eagled 12.

Q. You knocked it on the green?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: Yeah, knocked it on the green, made like a 30-footer, and that really gave us the momentum we needed, and we knew we were really in the driver's seat there and just --

Q. So 12 was a big moment?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: 12 was the biggest moment. I made a big putt to get 3-up with six to play.

Q. Where do you go to school next year?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: UCF. I just finished my freshman year.

Q. You've already played one year?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: Yeah, I did.

Q. Did you guys make it to regionals?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: No, an individual.

Q. You're one year older then?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: Yeah, I'm 19.

Q. You were the Junior Player of the Year last year in Florida; that is correct?

KIKO FRANCISCO COELHO: Florida, yeah.

Q. Did you just win the Florida Boys or did you win something else too?

KIKO FRANCISCO COELHO: I won a couple smaller tournaments, but yeah, just played solid overall.

Q. Is this your first USGA championship, both of you?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: Yeah.

Q. So you're a couple steps away from qualifying for the U.S. Am if you win this championship. You guys probably know that. And you're old enough still to play the Junior, correct, so you get in the junior, too. Is that on your minds at all?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: One hole at a time, one match at a time, and then the rest will take care of itself.

Q. How about the double rounds on this golf course?

LEOPOLDO HERRERA: I mean, as long as you just keep looking at the ocean, there's no problem.