LPGA QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT STAGE II

October 24, 2021

Katherine Smith

Plantation Golf and Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. I mean, wow. Had to make a putt on the 18th to be on the cusp; made a putt on the 18th. You're emotional. What are you feeling right now?

KATHERINE SMITH: I mean, the LPGA knows how to set up Q-School. That last hole you have all carry over water with tons of wind, and I just wanted to get on the green. Then got to the green and I was like, This is a putt I hope to two-putt.

So I knew I needed to make it. I don't know what's going to happen this afternoon, but I'm just like I'm really proud of myself.

Q. You bounced back. Had a tough second round and bounced back.

KATHERINE SMITH: Yeah.

Q. Ground it out to be right now in the top 45. What does that mean to you?

KATHERINE SMITH: It means a lot. I don't know, kind of like always a bridesmaid kind of thing. I feel like I've had a lot of learning experiences in the last year, and so after the second round I was like, Shoot. Why not the learning experience. So I would be ecstatic if this turns out to be on my side this time and be able to go to Alabama.

It's just been a dream being able to be here and being able to play golf with world-class golfers. I wouldn't trade it for the world even if that putt didn't go in.

Q. What were some of the learning experiences if you don't mind sharing?

KATHERINE SMITH: So I played the ANWA and I was leading and then rain delay happened and I played like really bad. So felt very much like that, because you get all this attention and articles and interviews and stuff and then you got to keep playing golf.

So I guess like just learning to deal with media and the coverage. I'm like from like a super small town, so I'm pretty happy if like one person watches from back home. Just dealing with the pressure and everything like that.

Q. What small town?

KATHERINE SMITH: Detroit Lake, Minnesota.

Q. What's that like? Minnesota is obviously not a golf state.

KATHERINE SMITH: Yeah, it's wonderful. People love the game. I've had a lot of good role models. Amy Olson and Sarah Burnham came out of that area.

But, yeah, our average temperature is 26, so just got to work really hard really fast when the winter hits.

Yeah, just grateful for the experiences that led up to this. I hope that I see you guys in Alabama.

Q. Your dad is obviously here. What is that like to have that support from both of your parents?

KATHERINE SMITH: Yeah. My mom had to leave on hole 12 today, so I know that was tough for her. I said it before this week, a lot of girls are out here alone, and I'm definitely leaning on my parents to give me some support.

Just having them be able to watch all this has been awesome. I'm really grateful that they're here and that my brother can caddie.

Q. Last question. Let you go celebrate. Double on the 7th. Where was your mind? You obviously dug deep and fought back. Where were you at after the 7th hole?

KATHERINE SMITH: Pretty hopeless. If you told me a year ago I had full Symetra status I would be ecstatic. It's hard when those things happen not to be like, well, that was it.

Not everybody gets to pursue their dreams. I feel like I'm fighting for a lot people that I know that are rooting for me and want to see me fight as hard as I can. I wanted to do that coming in, and they're not easy golf courses to start turning around and making birdies.

So just keeping it realistic, especially the finishing stretch. You can go wrong a lot of times, so trying to play smart and aggressive at the same time is hard.