COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

May 13, 2022

Lauren Stephenson

Upper Montclair Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Lauren, I was just talking to Josh here, and it's been quite an eventful two days.

LAUREN STEPHENSON: Yes.

Q. Let's start off, I want to know a little bit about yesterday and kind of what clicked for you on your back nine after the start that you had.

LAUREN STEPHENSON: Yesterday was just a complete rollercoaster. It was kind of like life, you know, you never know what's getting thrown at you.

I changed putters yesterday and I was feeling really confident going into the round. Like it's going to be good. Started out with a four-putt and I'm like, oh, gosh. Maybe this is the worst decision I've ever made.

And just really like didn't score well. Was 4-over through 10, and then I made one -- a good birdie putt on 2 and I just said to Josh, we're about it get hot.

Once I got a little bit of confidence I knew I could like make the putts, so then I made five in a row, which was really fun.

I don't know if I've done it that before or like how long ago it was, so that was fun.

But, I mean, yeah, I was 4-over through 10 and finished the last 26 holes 6-under, so whatever. I don't even -- can't do the math. Too much.

Yeah, I mean, just goes to show that I'm like a fighter and I didn't give up after having a really tragic start to the week.

So to be at the top is like really exciting.

Q. A grinder, a 6-under day for you today. How much did you carry over from yesterday's consecutive birdie streak and how much do you think that momentum kicked off today as well?

LAUREN STEPHENSON: Yeah, I mean, just getting that confidence I needed with the putter to know like, Hey, this is a good decision. We can make it work, and that I can make the putts that I need to make just gave me all the confidence in the world coming out today.

Today just played super solid. Like I didn't really let the bogeys get to me. Like I knew there were a lot of birdies out here. I mean, I made eight birdies and had two bogeys, so kind of just going with the flow.

You know, hit some really good shots and then also made a lot of good putts, so feeling good.

Q. You changed your putter, as you said. What kind of caused that change? When did you decide that you wanted to make that change?

LAUREN STEPHENSON: Well, I did the U.S. Open qualifier on our off week last week. 36 holes; I shot 2-under par and I never hit it better in my life. Probably should have shot 12-under. I mean, I had like probably 15 putts inside ten feet that I didn't make.

So it's like just got get something different to look at, different feel. When you're kind of on the mojo of golf you got to change something, so changed it up and it's working so far.

Q. What will you take away from the last two rounds as you head into the weekend?

LAUREN STEPHENSON: That I'm making a lot of birdies. I think I made six today and eight today, so keep doing that. I mean, even if I make a few mistakes, if you're making that many birdies it's okay.

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