BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 27, 2021

Jennifer Kupcho

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Jennifer, you were five holes down through seven and came back to tie the match. You got to feel proud about how you battled back. Tell us how your feeling right now.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Really good, yeah. It was a tough seven holes, that's for sure. Not only because I was losing, but also just I couldn't hit a golf shot.

So to turn it around mid-round, I haven't done that in a while, so it's nice to see that I can turn it around in the middle of the round.

Q. Was it something that made you turn it around? Mental thing? Party of your game? How do you think you were able to make that change?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Honestly, I think I just hit one really good shot, and from there I started making really good swings. I definitely started to feel the heat and get tired at the end. I had to keep telling myself, You're almost there.

Q. Almost there as I stand here in a jacket. What were some key moments out there on the course that you thought were clutch for you during the comeback?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Honestly, I think my first win on No. 8. I hit a really good shot in after she missed the green and had a really good shot at birdie. Obviously didn't make it, but, I mean, it put the pressure on her to have to make up and down, and I think that really turned the match a little bit.

Q. You two are both young in your tour careers, but clearly played each other a fair amount during college. What was your experience playing with Leona? And you certainly you've had some match play experience. Thoughts on match play?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, I mean, match play is fun. I haven't been super good at it so it's nice to see it come around. Leona and I are pretty good friends. She went to Duke, Wake Forest, so we played together a lot, all the time. My parents always used to tell me, She must really like you because you're the only one she talks to on the course.

It's pretty fun.

Q. And if you don't mind, tell us about 18 where you were able to get a birdie and tie the match.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, we both hit great drives. We had 150 yards in which isn't really normal for a par-5. Downwind helped that, and she didn't put herself in a great spot up by the green, so I knew I just needed to hit the green and hopefully give myself a chance for eagle.

Q. What do you take away personally from coming back from such a big deficit to salvage half a point and keep yourself alive?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: It's definitely helpful. I mean, she won yesterday her match and so did I, so I knew it was going to be a really tough match.

Who knows what will happen tomorrow, but, I mean, yeah.

Q. Overall what's the experience been like this week, beyond hot? What's the experience been like at this course and some of the hospitality we're receiving?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: It's been amazing. I mean, the golf course obviously is beautiful, as seen on TV. But I feel like if Augusta was the name of this place that could go for it. So it's really beautiful and nice, really great shape.

The sponsors have done a really great job of -- I mean, picking us up in a limo from the airport, that's pretty awesome. And some of the gifts we've gotten is pretty cool.

It's always nice to feel the love.

Q. It says tied on the leaderboard, but do you feel like you won in a sense?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: A little bit, yeah. I definitely battled back really hard, and I feel like I came out on top even though it was tied.

Q. Learned some things about yourself today?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Absolutely.