MARATHON CLASSIC PRESENTED BY DANA

July 9, 2021

Jennifer Kupcho

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Jennifer Kupcho who just carded a nice bogey-free 65. Nice way to spend a Friday. How are you feeling right now?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Pretty good. I love coming back to this place. This is where I came and played as an amateur, first LPGA event, so it's always special. I love playing here.

Q. You carded a bunch of birdies on your day: one, two, three, four, five, six, including two in a row on 7 and 8 and 17 and 18. Was it just a steady round for you today or what clicked today?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I think I was just hitting the ball really well continuously through throughout the round. It kind of was the same yesterday. I started out well and slowly went downhill. So I just kept telling myself to finish strong and keep putting good swings on it.

Q. You were playing with a great group with Brooke and Jessica. A lot fans out supporting. Does that help a round like this?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, definitely just to play with Jess and Brooke, they're both really nice and we talk a lot, so that keeps me calm when I'm usually pretty fiery.

Q. You mentioned you were here for the first time as an amateur. Got in that off your NCAA success. What does that mean to you to get this opportunity and how you have parlayed it into such a successful young career?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: It meant a lot just -- I mean, I had never been able to play any LPGA events, so just to be out among the best in the world, it was really cool. I played really well, so that was even better, just to get in contention and do that as an Am.

Q. And now you pulled that through as a professional. What is it about Highland Meadows? We hear from a lot of people it's a comfortable course. People feel at home here. What is it about the course that really seems to click with you?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I'm not really sure, honestly. Every year the last two years -- I didn't play well last year. Walking on the property it's a refreshing feel and just a fun golf course to play. You can birdie a lot of holes, and I think that's what makes it so fun, is you really can birdie any hole out there. You never know when you're going to get on a roll.

Q. And we're going to be back here in Toledo in September for the Solheim Cup. Going to see these fans out again. You were at the practice session at Inverness on Monday. What was that like getting to see the place again after last year and to get a little practice time in?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, it's really fun just to be included in the practice. Obviously not officially on the team yet, so just going to keep working harder and hopefully get back. Inverness is a super cool course, so I'm excited.

Q. What would it mean to you to represent Team USA at the Solheim Cup?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: It would mean a lot. I mean, really just to be part of the USA team is something that I'll never forget and definitely will be a highlight of my career.

Q. We'll bring it back here to Highland Meadows. Still more golf here. You're up toward the top of the leaderboard. Clubhouse leader at this point with Nasa still on the course. What do you think it's going to take to get a victory out here?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I think it's going to be a lot of birdies. I mean, score's always really low here, at least the last three years that I've been out here.

So, I mean, definitely just keep going out there and shooting at pins. You got to be aggressive.