AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 3, 2025

Emma Kaisa Bunch

Quick Quotes

Q. A 5-under par today second round, jumping up to the top of the leaderboard. Can you describe the difference in the golf course from yesterday to today?

EMMA KAISA BUNCH: I think, since I was off in the afternoon, it was just playing a little shorter because it dried out just a hair.

Besides that, it was playing pretty similar. The greens are soft enough to where you can take it at some of the pins without being long short-sided, and then some of them you probably shouldn't, and I did on a couple of those.

Yeah, it was playing pretty similar, which I liked because it helped me make some good decisions out there.

Q. New Mexico State; a little bit of a hike to get you up here to Georgia. When did you get into town, and maybe the first couple days of your arrival?

EMMA KAISA BUNCH: I got in Monday afternoon actually because we were playing a tournament in Phoenix. I had to get a red eye flight. I got in, the storm was already here, so I just kind of chilled that day and then the practice round on Tuesday.

Q. What was your first impression of Champions Retreat being kind of soggy?

EMMA KAISA BUNCH: This is my first time here, so I didn't know what to expect. I still thought it was playing pretty tough. I heard a lot of people saying it was playing a lot easier, which I could tell from the scores last year. I also heard it was windy.

It's a really fun track. I've been really consistent off the tee, which has helped me a lot. Yeah, I like it a lot. I love soft greens where you can just be aggressive and make some birdies.

Q. Did you do a lot of research on the tournament to kind of get a little maybe -- did you get ahead of yourself with anticipation, or did you kind of come in as a blank slate?

EMMA KAISA BUNCH: I tried to really just come in as a blank slate. Of course there's going to be some expectations. You want to make the cut, all of that.

I knew that there was going to be pressure and expectations. So I tried to not look too much into it and just almost see it as a normal tournament.

Then like around the rounds take it all in, but when I'm out there, just try to see it as a normal tournament.

Q. Even par yesterday, 5-under today, so you knew you kind of started right on the cut line or somewhere in that neighborhood. How do you put that cut line out of your way and go and fire 5-under?

EMMA KAISA BUNCH: I knew the first round I just wanted to be somewhere in there. I usually struggle a lot in the first round and then I play better, so I wasn't too concerned. I just try to make some good decisions and just try to have fun.

Then if the birdies came, they came. Mostly trying to play for some pars, and then hopefully the birdies will come.

Q. A lot of players, especially their first time here, will take a local caddie. You said, I'm not doing that. I know you're waiting for this question. Who's on the bag this week?

EMMA KAISA BUNCH: My boyfriend, yeah.

Q. Aidan Thomas also plays men's golf for New Mexico State. How much of a help is it to have him as a player that knows exactly what you're going through?

EMMA KAISA BUNCH: I think it helps a lot that he's a player and like he's been in college for six years now. He knows all the pressure.

Yeah, it's kind of funny (laughter). We joke around about it. He's a little grandpa.

We were talking about it before if I should get a local caddie or just stick with Aidan, but I knew for me I just needed someone that knew me and knew what to tell me on the course and just that I could talk to more than knowing the course.

We're both used to playing tournaments, so we know how to figure out a course during the practice round.

Q. Most random topic of conversation today non-golf related?

EMMA KAISA BUNCH: Non-golf related. We were talking about puppies. I got a little ahead of myself and said, just think about puppies. Then we saw this meme yesterday, like which one is my boyfriend? There was a little puppy with a little cap on, little gangsta puppy, and I thought that was him.