WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

June 13, 2025

Paula Francisco

Quick Quotes

Q. Paula, you've certainly earned it the hard way, 19 holes this morning, 18 holes this afternoon. You must be delighted to be in the quarterfinals.

PAULA FRANCISCO: Yeah, it feels amazing. I think I did a great job this morning, and I tried to just be patient. I know this course can get you out of the rails a little, so I just wanted to keep being patient and hole by hole for sure.

Q. Obviously this morning's match against the top seed, and you were 4-down --

PAULA FRANCISCO: Yeah, I was 4-down through 11.

Q. But never say die; tremendous comeback. Was there a moment in the match where you felt the tide was turning?

PAULA FRANCISCO: Yeah, there was a putt that I made that I think set everything in a different way. I think I made a great putt on 13 and 15 to keep the match alive, and then she missed a few opportunities later on. I think that just got the door open for me, and I kind of went through it.

Q. It's amazing the momentum shifts in match play. How long was the putt on 13?

PAULA FRANCISCO: The putt on 13 was probably -- well, the one on 14 was, like, 15 feet, 10 feet, around that.

Q. And that gives you a massive -- tons of confidence coming through that match, and then coming into the afternoon with a spring in your step?

PAULA FRANCISCO: Yeah, I was real comfortable on the greens this afternoon. I think I was a little bit more tense. I could feel it more for sure. But I was playing really good, so I trusted my game a little more.

Q. Physically and mentally it's a long week; how are you feeling? Obviously adrenaline keeps you going, as well, does it?

PAULA FRANCISCO: Yeah, for sure. When you're up there you don't think about it, but it's true, when you finish, you're like, whoa. A wave kind of hits you.

Q. Going up against the other Paula, that's a match to look forward to, is it?

PAULA FRANCISCO: I mean, it's a dream. We've always talked about it, a final in a big tournament or even semifinal. It's just a dream, or quarterfinals. I'm just super excited to play with her, have fun with her out there, and just knowing one of us is going to make it to the semifinals keeps my heart warm for sure.

Q. You've played together a few times but possibly never against each other?

PAULA FRANCISCO: Yeah, never against each other.

Q. You'll know her game and she'll know yours, so it should be exciting?

PAULA FRANCISCO: It'll be exciting for sure.