U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

June 28, 2025

Paul Stankowski

The Broadmoor (East Course)

Quick Quotes

Q. Talk about the day, five birdies.

PAUL STANKOWSKI: Yeah, today was solid. I hit a lot of quality shots. I made some great putts, some for birdie, some for par. U.S. Opens you've got to scramble a little bit. You're not going to be in position all the time.

But I kept it in play and gave myself a lot of opportunities. I'm pleased with the score.

Q. Was there one of those birdies that stood out more than another since you had five of them?

PAUL STANKOWSKI: No, I've already forgotten which ones I made birdie on. I birdied the 1st hole. That was a good one. It was nice to get off to a good start. I made about a 15-, 18-footer right to left curler which was good. It was nice to set the tone. Yeah, all in all, pretty pleased with the play.

Q. You've played well the last couple years at the Senior Open.

PAUL STANKOWSKI: Well, you've got to drive the ball in play, and from there obviously you've got to hit quality shots. I've hit it solid. Here you've got to keep the ball kind of -- not necessarily below the hole but you'd like to keep the pin between you and the mountain to give yourself the best chances, but that's not always possible. You've just got to grind. I've driven the ball in play most of the time, and making some nice par saves, and that's kind of what it's all about.

Q. Was there anything you learned from the last two rounds that helped you today?

PAUL STANKOWSKI: The first day I hit the ball pretty similar, and I didn't get anything out of it. Yesterday, like I say, the ball-striking wasn't too different, but I made some putts and shot 3-under, so I was encouraged that, okay, I can shoot under par here.

I caddied for my brother in 2018 here, so I've seen the golf course, but it sure is nice to be on this side of the ball, if you will, or bag.

But it's a course that there's been some good scores. But it's a hard golf course. So it's a grind. The Opens are grinds. Thankful to be in good position.

Q. The position you've put yourself in, planning for tomorrow --

PAUL STANKOWSKI: It's similar, same thing. Just going to try to find the center of the fairway and go from there.

Q. Do you focus on the score or just do your job and let it fall?

PAUL STANKOWSKI: Yeah, that's the thing. Someone could go out and shoot 8-under, 9-under tomorrow. It's possible. We saw Mark Hensby get off to a great start the first day, birdied seven holes on the front nine. Low scores out there. I don't know where the leaders are going to be, but maybe I have one in me, I don't know. But I'm just going to go hit that first tee ball right down the middle and go from there.