LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY HOAKALEI

October 1, 2026

Michelle Zhang

Hoakalei Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, we are here with Michelle after the first rounds of the 2026 LOTTE Championship. Michelle, strong outing last week at Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. How does a week like that carry over into this week and give you some confidence out there for a first round like this?

MICHELLE ZHANG: For sure. Just kind of been playing -- like this is my fourth week in a row and been having good finishes the last three.

Then definitely just I feel like it's different, especially playing good on an LPGA week. Just having that confidence and knowing that I can compete out here.

But I thought I played fine. I held up fine the final round. Just didn't drop any putts. Just coming into today was just telling myself being patient out there. Had a couple really good looks in the first few holes and kind of missed it.

Then just being patient out there and trying to tell myself I got hit it closer to make putts.

Q. Then you were out there for the first weather delay. How did that look in terms of momentum-wise for someone like you?

MICHELLE ZHANG: It definitely was -- it was definitely interesting because it just like started down pouring and the rules officials weren't calling it and we were like, the greens are flooded.

Just I kind of bogeyed the first hole or like the second hole out after the rain delay, and just kind of like woke me up and was like, okay, I got to lock in and just kind of started playing better.

Q. Four consecutive birdies on five through eight. What was feeling good in that stretch?

MICHELLE ZHANG: Just irons. I would say the best part of my game is irons, and those are pretty tough holes. I hit long irons in, but knowing that's the best part of my game, just drained the putt.

Q. Then you talked a little bit about the puddles on the greens. What would you say otherwise how the course overall is playing? I know initially you had during the pro-am and stuff it was pretty chill.

MICHELLE ZHANG: Yeah, the course is great. It's kind of funny because I had never been to Hawai'i. First time I've been to Hawai'i and I'm from China originally.

Where Blue Bay is I feel like the course and Blue Bay kind of play similar and I play a bunch of golf in Hainan. I feel like it kind of feels like a home course, just kind of like knowing that I've been playing on these types of grass that some players don't really see out here that much.

Q. Yeah, very cool. Last question: What would success look like for you coming off this week?

MICHELLE ZHANG: I think just kind of keep on finishing strong and like setting small goes at a time. I think my goal for the week is hoping I can make it to Pelican after this week, and like last week my goal was not to play Stage II. So small goals at a time and if we do good, great.