DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL

July 16, 2022

Lauren Hartlage

Brooke Matthews

Midland Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with two 2022 LPGA Tour rookies in Lauren Hartlage and Brooke Matthews. A nice little 60 to end your weekend here at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. Lauren, I'll start with you, because last year you were a sponsor invite at this event as one of the sponsor invite teams to be here, to be up there on the leaderboard. How did this week go for you?

LAUREN HARTLAGE: It was awesome to be able to come back. That was my first LPGA tournament last year, so finally coming back to familiar place. I knew it was a super fun tournament, and I had such a good partner this week. It was overall such a fun week.

Q. Brooke, what went into this partnership? Who asked who, and what has it been like this entire week with Lauren?

BROOKE MATTHEWS: Me and Lauren have kind of been traveling around, hanging out. We're both rookies so we're bouncing off each other throughout the year, and we were roommates at Palmer Cup last year, and that's where we really became friends.

When we both got the chance to get in, I feel like it was kind of a no-brainer for both of us.

Q. How much does an event like this, Lauren, kind of help with confidence, help with your play, going into the summer swing of events?

LAUREN HARTLAGE: Definitely. I haven't gotten off to the best start this year, but I think for both of us we played really well this week, and I think it's a good confidence booster going into the rest of the season.

Q. Brooke, what was just working so well between the both of you today?

BROOKE MATTHEWS: Honestly, it was just the team dynamic. I don't know if we both birdied the same hole one single time all week. We just had our back -- each other's back on every hole.

We hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens between the both of us, so we had very little stress on us, especially today. It was just kind of smooth sailing, which never really happens in golf. (Laughing).

Q. This is definitely the first time you have been here, Brooke. What has it been like, this team environment, this area of Midland, Michigan? What's it been like all week?

BROOKE MATTHEWS: Yeah, the area and the tournament is just amazing. As far as just like the fans, this is one of the biggest turn-outs I've seen all year, and we really appreciate that.

This is just such a fun vibe. Everyone is happy. We are used to being out there alone all the time, so to be able to have a partner and, obviously, when you do well, it just makes it even better.

Q. Absolutely. Lauren, just the transformation of now you are a rookie on tour playing this event as an official tour member. What's it like to be back for the second time?

LAUREN HARTLAGE: It's been awesome. I had a great experience last time but obviously we missed the cut. It was fun to come back this week and put some good numbers in and contend. It was definitely a great experience.

Q. What do you think -- I'll ask this of both of you -- this course, the scores are out there. You guys definitely showed it on this final day. How did both of your games complement each other this entire week. I'll start with you, Lauren.

LAUREN HARTLAGE: I think we have a really similar style. Brooke hit first pretty much every time we played for best ball, and she was hitting her driver well, so she usually put one out there really far. That made me feel comfortable. I could just get out there and rip it.

We gave ourselves some really good opportunities and kept ourselves out of trouble most of the week.

BROOKE MATTHEWS: Kind of the same as she said. Luckily, I was hitting my driver good for her, and she hit almost every green. It made it really easy for me to fire at some pins. Lauren rolled it great all week, so I was just happy to cheer her on with that. (Laughing).