AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 1, 2022

Latanna Stone

Quick Quotes

ANWA.

Q. What was the most challenging hole you found out there today?

LATANNA STONE: Oh, goodness. That's a great question. Wasn't expecting that question.

I don't know. They were all pretty tough. Not going to lie. The greens really got me. They're different from the course we just played for sure.

Q. What's the most fun hole you played out there then?

LATANNA STONE: Oh, I really like 12 because we got to take a photo over there. It was really cool walking up the bridge. It was just so beautiful right then and there. Picture perfect.

Q. In what ways did the firmness of Champions Retreat prepare you for what you found today, if at all?

LATANNA STONE: It definitely helped with where to land it, and kind of playing from not so much like the center of the green, you have to land it in specific spots.

Other than that, I mean, just kind of play to the front. It's firm, very firm out there for sure.

Q. Was there anything different about today's round given that you're kind of sitting on the lead in the middle of an event and you're playing a practice round? What was the mindset, and what was it like to be out there today?

LATANNA STONE: Yeah, I was just going out there and having fun, just learning the course. I've never played this course before, but I was kind of cherishing it and having fun out there.

But still learning, you know, where to hit it and where the putts break and stuff.

Q. When did you find out you were in this event?

LATANNA STONE: Actually got an email about it like saying my tracking number and stuff. I was really excited. Then it came in the mail.

I had to play until the end of year. Like it was week 52, making sure I had a good ranking and was sitting in a good position.

I didn't know where I stood between the top 30 Americans that got invited, just making sure it was high.

Q. You obviously helped out your case by winning back-to-back events in the winter.

LATANNA STONE: Yeah.

Q. How do you explain how you were able to step your came up a notch to get that done? Is there anything that you did differently or any kind of -- anything you discovered in yourself?

LATANNA STONE: I think I was really working hard on my driver and trying to keep it in play more, because I was struggling with my driver over the season at LSU, and just kind of getting it straightened out and figuring it out really helped me.

If you don't hit fairways, kind of hard to hit greens, too.

Q. Was there a low point with the driver?

LATANNA STONE: Yeah. It was kind of just spraying everywhere. Didn't really know where it was going. Kind of figured it out.

Q. What's your process of trying to learn this golf course in four and a half hours?

LATANNA STONE: I mean, I think I told you this before. Just keeping it simple and trying to find the fairways and greens.

I don't want to overthink too much because, I mean, you can definitely get lost in this course. Can't let a bad shot, you know, turn it into big numbers. Try and keep big numbers low.

Q. If you had one more ticket to give to a family or friend for tomorrow's final round, who would you give it to?

LATANNA STONE: I wish I could give tickets to all my family and friends. That's so hard. I did give the remaining of my tickets to my club fitter and his wife, who has been dying to come to Augusta. They're going to come out Saturday and watch me play.

Q. How do you think you'll handle tonight and kind of the run-up tomorrow morning?

LATANNA STONE: I'm just going to kind of relax and just keep -- just have fun. I mean, not think too much. I mean, there is nothing you can really do. I know where I'm standing, but at the same time, I'm just going to go out there and play my game.