MARATHON CLASSIC PRESENTED BY DANA

July 10, 2021

Nasa Hataoka

Quick Quotes

Q. Nasa, I just told you that you've broken the 54-hole record. What is it about this course that you just are firing on all cylinders?

NASA HATAOKA: I think the original thinking of this court was that it was a very narrow course to it might be difficult for me.

Then it came out to be that the narrow it makes it easier to get to the target, so I think this is what was good.

Q. You had that bogey there in the beginning. You were able to rebound after that. Do you feel as if you're getting more and more confident in your game as you keep going through this course?

NASA HATAOKA: I think this course kind of gives me confidence in my shots, so I think it's really working out for me.

Q. You had four birdies in your last five holes. Did you realize how well you were doing as you kept going through the day?

NASA HATAOKA: I think last five holes are usually the place where you really have to concentrate and try for the birdies and I think that kind of clicked and gave me those birdies.

Yeah.

Q. Were you looking at the leaderboard throughout your day today?

NASA HATAOKA: Here and there, yes.

Q. Did you see your lead continue to increase and increase, and what were your thoughts as you looked at those leaderboards?

NASA HATAOKA: To continue to get those birdies was the main thing, and I think instead of looking at the leaderboard, I think I was able to concentrate more to getting those birdies and that's what the score came out to be.

Q. How comfortable are you with a six-shot lead and everybody chasing you? How much fun will tomorrow be?

NASA HATAOKA: I think you can't really tell because the weather right now, but right now all I'm going to concentrate is just getting the best, playing the best just going forward.

Q. What would it mean to you to win tomorrow here in Toledo?

NASA HATAOKA: I think when I first was here it was my rookie year and I really played awful, so when I'm playing the way I am right now, it really makes me think how much I grew up, how much better I've gotten.

Right now I'm not going to think about the winning. I'm just going to concentrate on playing the best.

Q. You have changed last in the couple years, and you've notched some wins as well. We've seen some great showings in the past season alone. What would you take away from the U.S. Women's Open and other times that you were in contention as you take on tomorrow?

NASA HATAOKA: Since Vegas and U.S. Open I really started to get confidence in my play, but it's still in the mid-season, so I'm just going concentrate, and keep doing my best.