U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 7, 2025

Lyla Louderbaugh

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Quick Quotes

Q. I don't know what your expectations were at the start of the week, but put that in perspective.

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Yeah, going into the week I definitely wanted to make it past where I finished last year, and that was obviously in the first round of the matches.

So I'm super excited to head into the final eight of match play. Super excited.

Q. Anything about today's match where you felt like the momentum was turning, any particular hole or shot?

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Yeah, actually in both matches I was down in like the first nine and then I kind of brought it back and I won a few holes in a row in both matches. That really is just playing consistent golf. Like just making the pars when you need to make pars and getting the job done that way.

Q. Obviously won the NCAA regional, and that was your first collegiate win in May. Then win in Kansas, Women's Amateur, by the same amount of strokes. Where does this come from? Where do you feel like was the turning point in your game that elevated you to the next level?

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Yeah, I'm working harder than ever and I'm really happy to see the results, and I knew it was coming. I knew that there was just -- I just needed one good tournament, which was my first bogey-free tournament round at Papago, ASU's tournament. That kind of really set me up for success in a way.

I've really been able to control my game in a way that I'm really liking when I'm on the golf course.

Q. Today you saw Bandon Dunes, what it's really like out here with the wind. How do you manage that? How do you stay patient dealing with the conditions? You guys really haven't seen this the first three days.

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Yeah, my caddie says this is typical Bandon weather, so excited to see what the next few days hold for that.

But I'm used to the wind. Kansas we get a lot of wind. I'm grateful that we get to play Prairie Dunes out in Hutchinson, Kansas, I think it is. It gets gusty out there as well. It's kind of a linksy style course.

But I knew you're going to miss greens and it's all about grinding to get those pars and going from there.

Q. You realize quarterfinals gets you in this next year.

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Yeah.

Q. Exemption.

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Yeah.

Q. Probably big burden off your...

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Oh, yeah. I'm excited. That helps a lot.

Q. What did you learn about yourself this week that you didn't know coming in? Like you said, I know you really wanted to get past the first round and now you're playing on Friday.

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Yeah, going back to when I shot my bogey-free round at Papago, I kind of found a click in my game where it's just like, stay mellow, don't get over excited, don't get down on yourself; just stay steady and just know that I'm capable of hitting any shot that comes my way.

Yeah, that's...

Q. What was that event?

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: That was ASU's.

Q. I know but when.

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Oh, that was before --

Q. It's April, like mid-April.

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Yeah, yeah. Two tournaments before the regional.

Q. Do you think the shift in mentality helps you when you get done in a match so you're not trying to push too much or being aggressive too early?

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: Yeah, in my first match I was down going into the last three holes and I won the last two, or I think last two to win 1-up on 18.

And my mom and dad kept asking me, like what was going through your head when you're down. I was like, I just know that I can do it and that I'm clutch and I make putts when I need to make putts. That's something that I've always been good at and that I can rely on.

I kind of just talked myself through it and said, I've hit this putt a million times. What's another one more, you know.

Q. Talk us through your mindset heading into the quarterfinals tomorrow. Is there anything you'll take into that round?

LYLA LOUDERBAUGH: I'm just going to go out and enjoy the day, really take in the scenery and everything, because this is just a great place. Like you just don't come to Oregon a lot. I've never been to Oregon. As well as being on the coast, which is absolutely beautiful.

So I think just coming from a place of gratitude and taking it shot by shot, yeah.