LPGA QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT STAGE II

October 20, 2021

Gabriella Then

Plantation Golf and Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. So, talking a couple years ago you were kind of considering laying off the professional golf.

GABRIELLA THEN: Yeah, it was back in 2019.

Q. What changed for you? Was it the COVID year? Was it just kind of keeping with it? What changed?

GABRIELLA THEN: Well, after Stage I of 2019, I missed it by one, and by that point I had already been traveling on the Symetra Tour for three seasons, and I thought maybe that was it since I didn't make it.

So I would already kind of made that decision before March of 2020. Then the COVID year just prolonged that, so, yeah, I did make that decision back then.

Q. What changed?

GABRIELLA THEN: A lot of close family and friends really just saw the potential I had, saw the I guess talent that I didn't see in myself, and kept urging me to continue and just try one more year at least.

They said, You're still in your 20s. You should do it while you're young. I said, Okay. And with a little financial help as well from close people around me, I just started again this year on the WAPT.

Q. And you have done well. A win, four Top 10s. I mean, you seem to be comfortable on the WAPT. What's your season been like? How would you assess your season so far?

GABRIELLA THEN: Well, I didn't even know I was going to play on the WAPT and it just kind of sprung up on me. I feel like my season has been going really well. I have been confident throughout and really understanding my game under pressure, so I'm really happy with the way it turned out so far.

Q. With the differences in your careers on the Symetra Tour and the WAPT, does playing out there in the women's all pro tour give you a confidence boost?

GABRIELLA THEN: I think, yes, it did give me a confidence boost. Not that I never had it on Symetra Tour. It's just a different mindset, because back on the Symetra Tour I was getting burnt out because I went straight out of college and I'm competing right away at a really high level.

I think just taking a step back and reevaluating what I needed to work on and basically start over made me realize why I wanted to continue playing golf and be out there on tour.

Q. Now that we're at Stage II and probably Q-School can bring up some nervous energy for you.

GABRIELLA THEN: I know.

Q. What's your mindset heading into the rest of this week?

GABRIELLA THEN: I just want to continue with that confidence from the summer and understand that I'm here for a reason, and I want to be able to just give my all there on the golf course. I understand this is a pressure-packed week, and just soaking it all this and doing my best.

Q. What like lessons or experiences are you taking from your summer, the solid year you've had so far, into this week?

GABRIELLA THEN: There was a lot of situations this summer where it was a lot of pressure, like going down the stretch with the lead or being in the final group. I think that taught me a lot in terms of going into this week, because you kind of understand how your tendencies are, and being able to combat that, understand how you work mentally. So I think that will help for this week.

Q. How validating was your win on the WATP? I believe it was at the Kathy Whitworth.

GABRIELLA THEN: Yes.

Q. How validating was that for you?

GABRIELLA THEN: I think to some people it was, hello, it was time. For me, I was like, whoa, I didn't -- I mean, I expect it but at the same time I don't expect it.

Like I even surprised myself at how it turned out. I remember in the final round just being so in the moment and not even realizing what position I was in.

So I think that is a good lesson for this week, because everyone is going to be thinking about this number and this number and that place, that position, but just focusing on your shot is what I need to do.

Q. Coming into a week like this, does having that win in your back pocket maybe make you go, okay, I belong here; I'm out here; I know what I'm doing, I got this under control?

GABRIELLA THEN: I think it does. It makes me feel like I've accomplished that this year and I understand how to close it out. I want to just take that lesson that I learned earlier this summer and focus on finishing it out this week, and I think it did validate my confidence to keep going.

Q. What are some of your expectations heading into what's going to be -- from what I've seen of the golf course briefly -- two pretty tough tracks?

GABRIELLA THEN: Yeah.

Q. What are some of your expectations?

GABRIELLA THEN: I just expect to play the same solid, consistent golf I've been playing all summer. I just think that when I shut out all the noise in my head and I focus on what I need to do right in front of me, it'll all work out.

Q. Two years ago Gabby to today's Gabby, what would today's Gabby tell the Gabby of two years ago?

GABRIELLA THEN: Today I would be like, Stop thinking too much about the future. You can't control what's going to happen. You can only control what you can control right now. So focus on that.