MIZUHO AMERICAS OPEN

May 8, 2026

Zoe Cusack

Mountain Ridge Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, joined now by Zoe Cusack here at the Mizuho Americas Open after her second round. Great round from you today.

ZOE CUSACK: Thank you.

Q. In some tough conditions. Just take us through it.

ZOE CUSACK: Yeah, I had a rough start. I doubled my first hole and then bogeyed my second, so after that I was 3-over through two, which is not an ideal start.

But I had a good up and down for par on three, so after that I kind of settled in. And then I made a couple more birdies and I finished at 2-over, which isn't like terrible considering the conditions. It's pretty windy.

There is definitely areas to improve for the coming days, so...

Q. When you get off to a start like that, double bogey, bogey, how hard is it to kind of not let the round kind of spiral, you know? You didn't. You flipped it around; got some birdies. How do you not let yourself spiral and be like, oh, we're going to have a bad day?

ZOE CUSACK: Yeah, I think especially when the conditions are hard it's hard for everybody, so to kind of hang in there can be difficult but it'll take you like far throughout the round.

And then I have had rough starts before and I don't tend to give up. Usually I am able to finish strong or at least stay steady throughout the round, so I just kind of leaned on that past experience.

Q. Yeah. How has the week been for you? Is this your first time playing this event?

ZOE CUSACK: Yes.

Q. How has the week been? How has it been meeting Michelle and the mentees for the week and all the LPGA players?

ZOE CUSACK: Yeah, it's super cool. I've never experienced anything like this. Just to be able to play with the pros, practice, see how they go you through the tournament and how they prep, you can really learn a lot.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be a part of this AJGA field, so I'm just really grateful for everyone who put this week on.

Q. How excited are you for the weekend now getting to play in the same groups as some of the LPGA players?

ZOE CUSACK: I'm pretty nervous. I hope I don't do anything bad. Again, it'll be super cool and I can't wait, so...

Q. Anyone in particular that you met that has had a pretty good lasting impression on you?

ZOE CUSACK: Yeah, I had lunch with my mentor, Ashleigh. She was super nice. Her caddie, she was funny.

Just to ask them questions, like ask anyone questions. Just you can really learn a lot, so should take advantage of that.

Q. Yeah. Just two more from me. Committed to play at Virginia.

ZOE CUSACK: Uh-huh.

Q. How excited are you to kind of get your collegiate career started and hopefully see you out here on the LPGA Tour?

ZOE CUSACK: Yeah, I'm super excited. I mean, everyone in Charlottesville, the coaches, the team, they've been so much support for me, so I just can't wait to go to college this fall.

Q. Qualified for the U.S. Women's Open.

ZOE CUSACK: Yes.

Q. How excited are you for that? When you found out how much excitement was there? Just take us through all those emotions.

ZOE CUSACK: Yeah, I was super excited. I in my qualifier shot 1-under and 4-under, so I played well the second round.

I kind of knew where I stood, but then once I actually qualified it did not feel real. Like I didn't think in my head like, oh, I'm going to play the U.S. Open this summer.

But like I said, again, just being here is a great experience for what's to come in June, so should be really exciting.

Q. Been to Riviera?

ZOE CUSACK: No.

Q. First time seeing it then?

ZOE CUSACK: Yes.