JM EAGLE LA CHAMPIONSHIP

April 26, 2024

Rose Zhang

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Rose Zhang. You kind of just said it, you feel like you've just been blown around by the wind. What was it like out there, especially as the wind picked up?

ROSE ZHANG: Definitely. In the morning it was pretty calm, so I was able to capitalize on couple shots and gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities.

Going into kind of the back half of the nine, it was definitely a little bit more difficult; a lot more difficult actually. I did feel like I was trying to commit it all the shots that I could, but sometimes you just need your short game and putting to save yourself when you're out there.

So I think the afternoon will play pretty tough for the rest of the field. At least that's how I felt.

Q. To be able to walk away from 18 on a birdie, especially after 17, what did you say to yourself to reset after the double bogey there?

ROSE ZHANG: Definitely. Well, I've been either duck hooking my drives or spraying it right. It was unfortunate that that one happened to spray right.

I just tried to keep myself as composed as possible. Sometimes when you're out there you get in the moment a little bit too much, so I tried to calm myself down a little bit.

I had a lot more opportunities to go. I felt like I was playing pretty solid. So after the little mishap on 17 I was just thinking about getting it on the green and giving myself a good little look.

So I guess it worked out.

Q. Then to be able to go birdie, birdie, 1 and 2 to TOTO start off the back nine, walk me through that was working so well there.

ROSE ZHANG: Definitely. I gave myself some great shots, some great opportunities.

On 1 I hit it to three feet. It was just an easy uphill putt.

Then No. 2 was a little kick-in, tap-in.

So just being able to get myself close to the hole and kind of making it with ease definitely helped me a little bit.

Q. On your back nine, which is the front nine holes.

ROSE ZHANG: Right.

Q. When did you feel the wind start swirling or was that an all-day effect?

ROSE ZHANG: No, I think it start actually on 3 three. So when I was on 3 it picked up a little bit. That hole plays pretty difficult, especially if the wind is helping. You find it difficult to stop on the green.

Then No, 4, and then 5 just escalated. I significantly felt it on No. 5, and then going from there it played pretty tough.

Q. You talked about it earlier this week, but you your last time playing here when it was and LPGA Tour event kind of rotation is that Monday qualifier, and now you've got two competitive rounds underway at an LPGA event. The winds are suggested to pick up later in the afternoon. How satisfied are with the kind of round you were still able to grind out here?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, very satisfied. I remember just playing the Monday qualifier as a 16 year old, and it was a great opportunity for me to just see what an LPGA golf course is looking like and how it's set up.

I just remember this golf course being very challenging, especially if a slight wind picks up, so I'm very satisfied with how I was able to maneuver myself around the greens, keep myself composed.

So hopefully with a little bit more prep work, the weekend will look good as well.