U.S. GIRLS' JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

July 21, 2022

Maria Jose Marin

The Club at Olde Stone

Press Conference

Q. Two quick matches; is this the best you've played in a two-round type of situation?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yeah, this is the best I've played in match play, and this one being a USGA tournament. It's the best I've played, and I'm really excited.

Q. What do you feel like has been the difference this week? What's clicked?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Well, I've been playing good all this week, and on the qualifier -- yeah, on the two rounds of qualifier I played good, and that gave me a little confidence for the match play rounds.

Yesterday's match was really tough, 21 holes. It was long. Then at the end I finished winning. These two, I just played one of the best golfs I ever played.

Q. The one this afternoon or the one this morning?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Both of them.

Q. You had six wins this year, correct, since the beginning of the year?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yes.

Q. Obviously something is going right with your game when you get that many wins.

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yeah.

Q. What's been the difference this year over last year in your game? Have you gotten more distance? Have you worked on something specific?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yeah, I think one of the differences is that I'm really working on my distance, and that's helping me a lot. My mental game has been always strong, and I've just been like continuing that process, and I think, yeah, that's the difference.

Q. You're a dual citizen, right, of Mexico and Colombia?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yeah, I was born in Mexico and now I live in Colombia.

Q. When did you move to Colombia?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I was three and a half.

Q. So you don't remember much?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: No, I don't remember that much.

Q. What class are you in high school, '23?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I'm a '23.

Q. Have you committed anywhere?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yes, I'm committed to University of Arkansas.

Q. So you'll sign in November?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yeah, I'll sign up in November.

Q. Have you played a lot in the States?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I just come here January and over the summer just to play a few tournaments all the years.

Q. Is this your first Girls' or did you play last year?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I played last year.

Q. Did you make match play?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I made match play. I made the round of 64. Unfortunately I didn't go through past the 64. But it was a good experience.

Q. Now you're in the quarters, so you don't have to qualify for next year.

MARIA JOSE MARIN: That's going to be great.

Q. Did you have to qualify for next year?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: No, I got an exemption.

Q. So is anything that happens gravy tomorrow?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yeah, tomorrow I think is 36, too?

Q. Yeah, two rounds if you win both.

MARIA JOSE MARIN: So tomorrow is going to be 36, long day, too, so just keep concentrated and keep what I'm doing.

Q. How tall are you?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I'm like four --

Q. Are you even five feet?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I don't know.

Q. You're probably one of the smaller players in the field. Pound for pound the best player in the field maybe?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I'm pretty small.

Q. How far do you hit your drives?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Maybe right now I'm hitting it like 245.