VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA LPGA TEXAS CLASSIC

July 3, 2021

Angela Stanford

Old American Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Angela Stanford after a 6-under 65. Did you think that number was out there today? That was a heck of a round.

ANGELA STANFORD: No, I did not. With this east wind that we are having today I think -- I told my caddie walking down the second hole, This is the hardest wind out here, and now we've seen all directions, but I think east is the hardest.

That probably helped me calm down and be patient and know it was going to play harder.

Q. And you had to rely on the Texas upbringing for playing in these winds. How does that change the mentality when you have the wind but the wind that you know from being here is the toughest one?

ANGELA STANFORD: I think, again, it makes me be more patient, take average shots and be okay with them, maybe not be so much aggressive.

I think it just makes me be more conservative, and then I think that puts me in a rhythm and I start making putts, and then before you know it, you have a good round going.

Q. You talk about conservative, and this is anything but a conservative score, six birdies. Tell us about those today. Any that really stood out to you?

ANGELA STANFORD: No. I mean, I've been -- my putting has been feeling better and better. I was so frustrated this morning because I felt like I left an eagle putt in the heart and the burned the edges, and I was just getting so frustrated, and I had two late bogeys.

My caddie reminded me, he's like, This is kind of what happened last year, and then you kind of had a really hot Saturday round. I'm like, Okay.

Just my putting has clicked. But, yeah, I think just being patient today. We played 31 holes today.

Q. How is the stamina?

ANGELA STANFORD: I'm ready to go bed. That 4:30 wake-up call was tough.

Q. That's tough for anybody. But you're back home. You won here last year. Got a lot of great memories. You were waving walking down the fairway before you even hit the green. Are you loving being back as defending champion and seeing the fans back?

ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, they gave me a very warm welcome on the first tee. I thought that was cool. I think I'm one of those players that people just don't scream and cheer for a whole lot, but it was just a really cool first tee today.

Kind of made me tear up a little bit, because last year there was nobody here to see it. It kind of felt like the, you know -- you know what I'm getting at.

So, yeah, it's nice to have my family and friends here and fans in general.

Q. Tomorrow you won't have nearly as early a wake-up call. You're right at the top of the leaderboard. Only the leaders ahead of you, a trio tied for first. What's the game plan going into tomorrow as you try to defend this title?

ANGELA STANFORD: Depending on what the weather -- if we don't have as much wind maybe be a little more aggressive. I have nothing to lose, so might be fun to chase them.

But I do feel really good about my swing and putting stroke, so I think we'll just maybe just go after it tomorrow.