U.S. GIRLS' JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

July 16, 2026

Amelie Zalsman

Old Chatham Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Before we talk about your most recent match, I want to rewind the clock to the first match of the day. You found yourself in an early hole. How did you bounce back?

AMELIE ZALSMAN: I'm not going to lie, it was really tough. I was like 4-down through five. Honestly, I knew I had it in me just because I wasn't playing too great through the first five. I just kind of locked in and found like a feeling in my swing, and I was able to start sticking shots and making putts.

Q. Fast forwarding to the afternoon, talk about your match, what was working out there for you and kind of how you pulled this one off.

AMELIE ZALSMAN: I think it was kind of the same thing as this morning. It was definitely a lot tougher just because it was my second 18, and it was just a lot of golf and it's so hot out here too.

Again, I think just staying patient. We were so close really the whole day. It was going 1-up her, 1-up me. I think just staying patient and, yeah, just waiting for her to mess up. That's what ended up happening.

Q. We saw earlier as playing in your fifth U.S. Girls' Junior. You've played in some other USGA events. How do you feel all that experience has helped you coming into the week?

AMELIE ZALSMAN: I've experienced almost everything in match play. I've experienced a lot of stuff. I think that's just given me more motivation.

Yeah, the experience totally just helps, like being 4-down through five, I've been in that situation before, and it didn't work out my way. So I think learning from that is what really helped me.

Q. I don't know if you knew this, but you're the last National Junior Team member standing in the field. Any thoughts on that? Anything you want to say to your teammates?

AMELIE ZALSMAN: You all suck. I'm just kidding (laughter).

No, I didn't know that. But I love being part of the National Junior Team. Yeah, it's fun, just with all my friends and everything on the team.