PORTLAND CLASSIC

August 31, 2023

Gina Kim

Columbia Edgewater Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Okay, here with Gina Kim after your first round at the Portland Classic. If I told you that this 64 was your lowest round on tour, what would that mean to you? Are you excited about that today? Obviously. I hope so.

GINA KIM: Yeah, I'm really excited. You know, I think today was where I was able to see a lot of my hard work pay off.

It's been tough this whole season, and I kept grinding through it. I kept believing in myself that maybe, you know, one of these days I'm going to be able to catch a good round like this.

So it's nice to hit the ground running out here. I'm feeling good. I like the golf course. It fits my eye. So it's really exciting. Love to break records.

Q. This is your first experience on the golf course, right?

GINA KIM: Yes.

Q. You didn't play in the Portland Classic last year.

GINA KIM: No.

Q. So tell me just about the course, how it suits you.

GINA KIM: Yeah, I mean, it's obviously bent greens. Everything is rolling pure. Obviously a little narrow. I heard that it was the same architect from last week and I liked last week; just my scores didn't reflect it.

I was like, you know what? I think this week is going to be a good one. I did some good work with my coach and we strategized over how to play this golf course, and I think I executed according to plan. So turned out well.

Q. You mentioned seeing your hard work pay off. What has it looked like the past couple weeks? Anything you've been working on specifically?

GINA KIM: Yeah, I mean, obviously with all this rain it's really soft, really mushy. You're going to see a lot of balls back spin off the ledge, like especially when the pin is at the top.

So just getting my distance control and learning how to control the spin. I think that's been really key for me, and just being patient with whatever is going on.

You know, I stuck to my routine regardless of how I shot today, so was really proud of myself for that. But it's been nice.

Q. Speaking of the wet, how did you transition mentally in your game between really dry practice rounds, hot practice rounds, into today?

GINA KIM: You know, obviously I checked the weather forecast. Even when it was a little warmer during the practice rounds it was still a little soft, so I just pretty much anticipated it's going to obviously spin back a little bit more.

So know how to control the spin a little better, just like skip a couple times forward. Just figure out how to reach the corners that I'm anticipating where they're going to put the flags at.

You know, I think I've done everything according to plan. I don't think I could have done any better. I really put 100% of my efforts in and it paid off.

Q. Amazing. Of your eight birdies today, any stand out as highlights for you today?

GINA KIM: Yeah. I would say the first hole. I snap hooked my drive almost to the tent. But the fact that I stayed calm -- I was like, you know what? We still got a shot out of here.

Took it out into the fairway. Had a 7-iron in. Had about 35 feet. Sunk it in, and I think it's really telling that golf is a funny game. It doesn't have to look perfect. As long as you are shooting the scores that's all that matters.

So I think that really helped bring the momentum for today.

Q. That was on 10 or 1?

GINA KIM: 10.