U.S. WOMEN'S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 30, 2021

Blakesly Brock

Berkeley Hall Club (North Course)

Quote Quotes

Q. Let's start with Teleri. You guys were roommates and played together in college and even friends in high school she was saying?

BLAKESLY BROCK: Yeah, we met each other actually at junior golf camp when we were like 11 and 12 years old, so we've known each other for a while. She played a semester at the same high school with me, but once we got to college or once we both knew -- she's a year older than me, so she was at Tennessee, and once I knew I was going there, we just picked up right where we left off, hit it off, best friends ever since, roomed together for three years, and she's my best friend. She's as good as it gets.

Q. Talk a little bit about the hat and the skirt that you're wearing.

BLAKESLY BROCK: Yeah, so the cool thing is after she graduated, she started her own golf clothing line called Teleri Athletics, and it is hands down the best golf apparel I've ever worn. These skorts have five pockets. The hats are comfy. I can't say enough great things about it.

The skirt I'm wearing today is actually named after me. It's called the Blakesly skirt. I wore it for good luck today, and obviously it paid off.

Q. She's got a big thank you to you for wearing it during your championship round of the women's Mid-Am.

BLAKESLY BROCK: Talk a little bit about just the play today. The front was a little back and forth and then you went on the run there on the back nine.

BLAKESLY BROCK: Sure. I knew it was going to be a tough match. When I made -- I went 1-up on 1 and then Aliea made birdie on 2 to get back to all square. I actually played a practice round with Corey Weworski, who won in '04, I think, and she gave me some great advice. I won't say what it was exactly, but I actually thought back to that, and it really carried me through the rest of the round.

Q. I think it was the up-and-down on 6 -- it was either 5 or 6, when you were in the bunker and then tree and then you had a great up-and-down for par.

BLAKESLY BROCK: That was No. 5. I've hit that fairway, I think, every single round except for today, so what is that, nine out of ten, and it's a super tight hole, maybe the toughest one out here. I wouldn't too worried when it went in the bunker. I knew I'd have a shot out. Just obviously pulled it too much out of the bunker, but I just told myself, hey, you still have a chance to get up-and-down and make par here. You don't know what she's going to do, so you still have a chance to win the hole and at least tie.

So I just stayed one shot at a time, really just took some deep breaths, and that putt was fantastic. When it went in, I was thrilled.

Q. She got one on 6, then you got one, tied it back up on 7, and then 8 you guys both had some pretty nice shots on to the green there on 3. You buried your birdie. What was going through your head after that going into 9, finally got the 1-up lead? Were you starting to get a little confidence then?

BLAKESLY BROCK: Yeah, I felt confident all day. I knew I was hitting it great. For me, I was trying not to worry too much about what she was doing and just play my own game. I really did -- I think the key for me this week was I never really got down on myself. I just held my head high the entire time and just tried to commit to my line and my speed.

That one on 8 was a big momentum change for me when I made birdie there. I felt confident with my putting, and for me, that's the key.

Q. I know it's been a long week and it's been a lot of action, but how would you sum up everything that's happened so far this week?

BLAKESLY BROCK: I'm speechless. This has been an absolute dream week for me. I'm so happy. The course has been phenomenal. I've enjoyed it. The superintendent has done a great job, especially with the rain we had at the start of the week. The USGA has been absolutely incredible. It's a dream.

Q. What were your expectations coming into the week? I know you won the Tennessee Mid-Am.

BLAKESLY BROCK: Yeah, I actually came straight from the Tennessee Mid-Am, hopped in the car right after the last round and came down for a practice round the very next morning. You know, when I showed up at the golf course, I had a feeling. I just had a feeling it was going to be my week. I played great at the Tennessee Mid-Am, and I knew I was good enough to win this golf tournament. I came in not really expecting to win but knowing that I could, and that gave me a lot of confidence.

Q. You won three matches that went to extra holes; talk about just the clutch --

BLAKESLY BROCK: Well, I was up early, and some of those matches kind of had a big lead and let some players come back, but I'm so proud of myself because that was the most pressure I've ever felt ever on a golf course.

When the momentum changed and they started to come back on me, I just never let it get me down. I just played my own game, took it one shot at a time, and I knew eventually the putts would fall.

Q. You're going to be in the U.S. Women's Open next year at Pine Needles; is there anyone you'd want to play a practice round with? Have you started to picture yourself playing in that event yet?

BLAKESLY BROCK: I haven't even thought about it. This is still kind of kicking in. Gosh, I could think of a lot of people I'd love to play a practice round with. Anybody out there.

Q. I know your parents flew in I think last night, and it seemed like you had a big crew out there. Just talk about the support that was following you along there in the final match.

BLAKESLY BROCK: Yeah, actually the guy my husband works for, Marcus Lyons, he was nice enough to fly my parents in private this morning, and I can't say enough about what that means to me, so big thank you to Marcus. To have my mom and dad here just means the world. They've been nothing but supportive my entire life, and they've seen my highs, seen my lows. This is a high for sure, and I know they'll enjoy it just as much as I have.

Q. Who were the other friends out there besides Teleri? I think your husband had a few friends I ran into, too.

BLAKESLY BROCK: Yeah, so Marcus obviously, his best friend, the guy he works for, and then Thomas Smith, he recently -- they were roommates in college at UTC. Thomas is a great friend of mine and Mitch's. He and his wife is somebody we spend a lot of time with.

He actually just fit me for a brand new driver, which I credit for a lot of my success this week. I gained, gosh, probably at least 15 yards, and that helped me a lot off the tee this week, so I was hitting some shorter clubs in.

Q. What was the driver?

BLAKESLY BROCK: It's the Titleist TS2. And then also I had Ryan and Brian Copey, husband and wife. Ryan has been a great friend of mine for a while. She actually was the coach at my rival high school growing up, but we've maintained a great relationship since. We play a lot of golf together. For them to come out and support me, I can't say enough. It means the world.