JM EAGLE LA CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA CONFERENCE

April 29, 2023

Aditi Ashok

Quick Quotes

Q. Didn't get as many birdies today, a couple bogeys on the card. Can you just take us through your round a little bit today?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I think the front nine I didn't hit it close. I think the only hole I hit it close was 7, and I made that one. Didn't hit it super close today, so didn't have many opportunities. Had a three-putt in there which was a bummer because I've putted good all week. I felt like I hit a couple good par putts in the middle and kept it going and tried to limit the damage a little bit.

Q. First time playing in the lead group on the LPGA. What was that experience like, and what did you learn from it for tomorrow?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, it was pretty cool. I think it's good for me because I have a lot of goals, and it was good to finally get myself in the lead group in a tournament.

Yeah, just trying to play my own game, stick to my own game plan, and hopefully I can do that tomorrow.

Q. Are you excited to maybe be in the chase a little bit tomorrow? Do you feel you can be more aggressive out on the course after today?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I think it just doesn't really matter. For me looking at my game today, I know I didn't hit it super close, so I know that's what I have to do tomorrow. Maybe of the three days I feel like today was the day I didn't hit it really good, so maybe tomorrow is going to be back to normal hopefully.

Q. As you said, you made a couple of really nice par putts in the middle of the round to keep things going. How much momentum can you take from that, that you could have really shot yourself out of it, but because of that you were able to keep yourself in it?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I agree, especially on this golf course I think you're going to have those par putts. It's not a place you can go into it knowing you're going to be in position the whole time. I left a couple of those putts really short, but holed 8, 9, 10 were really good putts for me, so if I can do some of that tomorrow, then it'll help me save more birdies.

Q. Is this a course you feel like you can be a little aggressive on? There's obviously some par-5s that you can get after, but how do you feel about trying to chase down?

ADITI ASHOK: Yeah, I think on this course, the holes where you can be aggressive, they're kind of set. They don't really change every day. It's just the holes where you can make birdie, you kind of have to capitalize on those holes. In a way, it's good, but in a way, I think it puts a little bit more pressure to score on those holes. Like 13 today, I'm pretty sure the scoring average was below par, but I made a 5. Although there are some opportunities, I think sometimes it can get in your head a little bit, and you're trying too hard on those holes.

Q. What's the key for you when you're in contention after 54 holes?

ADITI ASHOK: For me I think it's just -- my putting I guess is the stronger part of my game, so for me it's being close to the hole, trying to get more birdie putts. I feel like the whole front nine today, I had just one opportunity. That's obviously not good for me. I need more birdie putts inside 15, 20 feet, so yeah, have to hit it better.