LPGA Q-SERIES

December 10, 2022

Ines Lakalech

Magnolia Grove

Quick Quotes

Q. So first, Morocco winning, getting to go to the semifinals for the first time ever. Did finding that out give you some motivation for the rest of your round, and did it give you any juice finishing it out?

INES LAKALECH: Well, thank you for giving me the news because I didn't know. No, I'm kidding. We were checking with my husband on the back, but we were really thinking of doing it or not, and it gave me extra energy really during the round.

It's amazing. I'm a big fan of the Moroccan National Team, so I'm super, super happy. I'm going to be watching the game right now. I have to see how it went. But it definitely gave me an extra boost today on the course.

Q. And then their first time going to the semifinals. You are one of the first Moroccans to potentially go to the LPGA Tour. What does that mean to you to have that connection and it all kind of be happening and giving that you momentum heading into the last day?

INES LAKALECH: It's amazing. Honestly, I've been watching very closely what the national coach is saying about the team because it's history. It never happened before.

And his words really -- it gave me confidence that everything is possible, because that's their mindset right now. Yeah, I mean, definitely, I mean, I didn't have the best week last week. It was okay, but I'm definitely playing better this week.

I think it's all connected and related definitely, because I've been watching videos of press conference every single day. I'm not missing anything about the National Team. It's great to see.

Q. And then ending your day with four birdies in a row, what kind of confidence and momentum does that give you heading into the final 18 tomorrow?

INES LAKALECH: Very excited to be not too far from the first player, so I'm just going to keep doing my thing, playing shot by shot.

But hopefully, I mean, staying patient, because the beginning of the round it was not that easy. I started with two bogeys. But, yeah, I mean, that patient mindset really helped me to finish with four birdies in a row which was great.

Q. 6-under, correct, on the day?

INES LAKALECH: Yes.

Q. How did it feel walking off and being done for the day?

INES LAKALECH: It's nice. I mean, I just want to finish the round to go watch the game, and I'm really happy that it ended up in a nice way.

So it's two great news for the day.

Q. And then just eight rounds is a lot of golf. How do you keep positive and know that birdies are coming, but bogeys are inevitable and mistakes will be made? How do you keep positive knowing that and remind yourself that there is so much golf on the table for two weeks in a row, to know that you have opportunities to make up for mistakes?

INES LAKALECH: Yeah, so I just see it in general that we're playing 18 times two, which is a lot. 18 times eight, sorry, which is a lot. So I'm not seeing it round by round, but really we're just playing a lot of holes. So if it's not today, it's going to be tomorrow or the next day.

And, yeah, I mean, it's a marathon, so I think it's whoever stays patient the most and just keeping hope that everything is going to be fine.

So, yeah, that's it.

Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...