CPKC WOMEN'S OPEN

August 19, 2026

Aphrodite Deng

Royal Mayfair Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, joining us ahead of the 2026 CPKC Women's Open is Aphrodite Deng. Aphrodite, you played in the pro-am today with LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler. How was that experience?

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, it was great. He was really nice and I asked him a lot of stuff like about the LPGA and what I would do like with my path and he helped me a lot.

He's a really good golfer, too.

Q. Aphrodite, what do you remember about last year, especially in the first round when you had the lead for most of the day?

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, I think that was really special because I didn't know what to expect and I got out there and made a bunch of birdies which was really cool, and the crowds were really nice and supportive.

Q. Were you ever nervous during that day? Did you exceed your own expectations?

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, I did exceed my expectations but I wasn't that nervous.

Q. What's the last year been like for you? You've had some impressive wins and some impressive showings on some big stages. What's that like for a 16 year old kid to be going through that?

APHRODITE DENG: Thank you. Yeah, it's been really fun experiencing like all my different events. Like playing at Augusta and teeing it up at Riviera for the U.S. Open.

Q. A million kids play the game. They all practice. They work hard. They don't all get to the level that you do. What is it that separates you from pack?

APHRODITE DENG: I think I just work really hard and not really think about the results, and, I don't know, I think I just have the talent for this game I guess.

Q. How old were you when you broke 100?

APHRODITE DENG: Oh, I don't think I ever really struggled with breaking 100. I started playing nine holes and my first tournament I shot 48.

Q. Over nine?

APHRODITE DENG: For nine holes, yeah.

Q. How old were you?

APHRODITE DENG: I was like ten, yeah.

Q. Brutal.

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah.

Q. Lydia Ko won this thing as an amateur. Is that something that obviously cross your mind because you were in the mix in a couple of big stages?

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, I think that's really cool and really inspiring to see that she won as an amateur, and it definitely inspires me and motivates me to be better.

THE MODERATOR: Okay, we'll have one more from us. What does success look like for you this week? Obviously you had a great finish last year but you're an amateur it's all relative.

APHRODITE DENG: Yeah, I think just staying and trusting the work that I put in already and just see how the week goes.

THE MODERATOR: Perfect. Thank you, Aphrodite.

APHRODITE DENG: Thank you.