THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

June 17, 2025

Matteo Cristoni

Quick Quotes

Q. Matteo, you've matched the clubhouse lead, 8-under par with two 67s. How do you assess your performance?

MATTEO CRISTONI: Yeah, I played really solid from the tee. I hit a lot of fairways. I didn't miss a lot of greens. So I gave myself a lot of opportunities, and some putts dropped, some others stayed on the lip. Overall, I'm really happy with my performance. Making the cut here at the Amateur is really, really hard, and to be at the top is really amazing.

Q. Just explain a little bit more on that. What does it mean to you? You've beaten a lot of guys over two rounds to medalist here at the Amateur.

MATTEO CRISTONI: Yeah, I think this is my fifth cut in a row made here at the British Amateur, and it's going to be my last one because I'm going to turn pro in one month. I know that my game was -- I'm playing really good at the moment, and I just kept my head down on the course and just shot after shot, I hit a lot of good shots, gave myself a lot of opportunities, and here I am.

Q. If you were to win this year, would you remain amateur to take up all the perks with the Open Championship and the U.S. Open and the like?

MATTEO CRISTONI: I don't know, it's so far away. I'm just focused on match after match, day after day, and we will see. But for right now I'm just playing to play well, make a few adjustments on my putting stroke and stay positive for tomorrow, and yeah, enjoy it. Really perfect weather. Last time it was here it was really rainy and windy.

Q. You mentioned you played here, was it in the European Team Championship or something like that a few years ago? What do you think of Royal St George's?

MATTEO CRISTONI: Yeah, it was three years ago.

I feel like this course really suits my game. Like you need to hit a lot of fairways and you need to have really good distance control with your second shots. I'm thrilled to play here. I can't wait to play tomorrow again.

Q. What course do you like better, this one or Cinque Ports?

MATTEO CRISTONI: Oh, this one, this one, for sure.

Q. Obviously as you mentioned you're into the match play tomorrow. What are the main differences between approaching this course tomorrow in a match as opposed to stroke play?

MATTEO CRISTONI: I'm just going to stick to my plan, hit fairways, hit greens, and probably just hole a few putts more.