DIO IMPLANT LA OPEN

April 23, 2022

Lilia Vu

Wilshire Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Lilia Vu. Really solid round today, 5-under 66. Four birdies and an eagle out there.

LILIA VU: Yes.

Q. Take us through your round.

LILIA VU: I think I just played every hole one shot at a time. I know it's really cliche, but I haven't been able to do that in the past couple weeks. I've been really struggling with my game.

So after I made the cut I just figured, okay, the only goal for this hole is to try and make a birdie, and if you give to a good run that's all I can do and move forward.

I gave it a good run today.

Q. I mean, I would say so. Being a local kind of out here and having the experience at UCLA, played Wilshire a bunch and that kind of thing. What kind of advantage has that given you this week to know the ins and outs of this golf course?

LILIA VU: Honestly, I don't know if there is an advantage because I was really used to playing here in the morning, so not a lot of wind. I started in the afternoon and I wasn't used to this course being windy so there was definitely an adjustment.

Coming off Hawaii, super windy. I was really shaky there with my golf game. So I was just kind of steering the ball the first couple days and then today I got the hang of it.

Q. Today versus yesterday, obviously wind died down quite a bit. Was that kind of a breath of fresh air, you can have a little more fun with it?

LILIA VU: Yeah, I actually decided today, okay, we're just going to have fun. Try to make a bunch of birdies and see what comes from it.

Q. You birdied four of the first seven. Were you thinking at that point -- I know you had a bogey in there also, but were you thinking really low? You went pretty low. Were you thinking really low at that point?

LILIA VU: I mean, I usually get off to a slow start, and then my best rounds come from starting really early in the round. I mean, I saw the opportunities and took advantage of it, I guess.

Q. Obviously this putts you in really good position heading into tomorrow. What's the thoughts about going into tomorrow? Look like you'll be a little behind, but what's the game plan?

LILIA VU: Just going to do the same thing. Usually when I have fun I play my best golf. There is a lot of birdies to be had, but I'm just going to do my thing and not really look at the leaderboard.

Q. There haven't been a lot of low scores. It's not a long golf course. What is it about Wilshire that keeps you guys from really going crazy on it?

LILIA VU: I think it's the greens. I think also the angles from the fairways. Some of the holes are really not gettable and you have to just aim for the middle of the green and be okay with that and try to make the 20-footers from there.

I think that that's what makes it difficult.

Q. Are you a player that likes to chase or are you more of a player that likes to have a lead?

LILIA VU: I like to chase because there is nothing to lose. Even when you're leading there is nothing to lose, but I like to come from behind.

Q. So tomorrow, does that kind of make you want to attack a little bit more or are you still playing quadrants of the green, playing it safe? Or are you more, we're going to go tort pins even if they're a little...

LILIA VU: We're going to go for these pins for sure, yeah.

Q. Have you always been like that?

LILIA VU: I think it's a confidence thing. Like I get really -- I love weekend golf, so once it's the weekend I think that's when I play my best golf.

I just get really excited, and that's when I'm amped up and super focused, when there is a lot of the people watching.

So I'm excited.

Q. How much fun has it been to have so many people out watching?

LILIA VU: Oh, it's so fun. I love it when people come out and watch, yeah.

Q. Little UCLA-USC in your group today. I know you and Allisen Corpuz are pretty good friends, but was that pairing even more special because of the history you both have here?

LILIA VU: Yeah, we both practiced here when we were at our colleges, so it was just fun playing with her and just catching up with her. Haven't played with her maybe I would say five years, five, six years, so it's been a while. It was nice to play with her. It was fun.

Q. Were there, Go Bruins and, Fight on kind of...

LILIA VU: No. I feel like I have a lot of Trojan friends. The only time I'm like, Oo, USC is doing the football game. I think we're all pretty friendly. Safe to say that.