DANA OPEN PRESENTED BY MARATHON

August 30, 2022

Gianna Clemente

Highland Meadows Golf Club

Quick Quotes

GIANNA CLEMENTE:

Q. Here with Gianna Clemente. Second week in a row. You were gifted an exemption into the Monday qualifier and then you Monday qualified.

GIANNA CLEMENTE: Uh-huh.

Q. What have the last few weeks been like for you? 14 years old; that's an aggressive accomplishment.

GIANNA CLEMENTE: Thank you. I knew I was going to get into a couple Monday qualifiers and I just wanted to make one. So I didn't expect to go back-to-back, but I produced two really good rounds. That's what happens.

In the other Monday qualifier I didn't expect to get in, I didn't play my best, but in this Monday qualifier I really did play good. I made a birdie on 17 in this Monday qualifier to get in. I was like, oh, okay I don't have to come out this morning and play a playoff.

So definitely crazy, but just super lucky for this opportunity.

Q. Playing last week, just walk me through your week in Canada. That's a heck of a tournament to start with with the crowds, the energy around that event. Walk me through your week.

GIANNA CLEMENTE: It was kind of chaotic the first day because you got to plan practice rounds, and I had no idea what I was doing. My dad actually had to go -- he had a work meeting to go to so I did it by myself the first day; the first day was kind of chaotic.

With my dad on the bag it was so much fun. Even though I missed the cut, it was so much fun to have him on the bag, and to have that as a first experience was awesome.

Q. This week, having that under your belt already, does it feel kind of the same? Do you feel like more prepared for what you're getting yourself into?

GIANNA CLEMENTE: I think I feel a little bit more prepared. I know the lay of the land a little bit and I know -- it's lots more casual than I thought it would be, especially in the practice rounds. Nobody is really stressed out. Everybody is just going out there and playing.

I think I know it a little bit better. Obviously not very well yet, but I'm not as stressed out as I was before. I'm just going to go out there and have fun with dad on the bag again.

Q. 14; not very long ago that you were a young fan at this event. I think your dad sent along some photos. Sorry. How cool is it to just be here? You were outside the ropes just a handful of years ago.

GIANNA CLEMENTE: Yeah, I don't really remember a lot of it, but I remember coming out and walking and just watching like Lexi, and I just like thought that was so cool.

So now I'm inside the ropes actually playing it's definitely a lot different. It's kind of crazy to me. It doesn't seem like that long ago even though it was, but this is definitely a special one to play in, so I'm really excited.

Q. I mean, watching Lexi yeah growing up with some of these girls that were on your TV screen, to be alongside them and brushing elbows, has anybody come up to you or said anything to you? Have you gone up to anybody?

GIANNA CLEMENTE: No. I've been a little -- I saw Lexi in the locker room in Canada and I was just way too scared to go up and say hi. I said that in another interview. No, I was not doing that.

But I think people have kind of noticed a little bit; like I think I kind of stick out because I look so young.

But, no, I have not gone up to -- I probably should be going up to people, but I'm a little too nervous to do that.

Q. If you think about some of the bigger names on our tour, a lot of them are doing what you're doing now. How inspirational is it to you to see what they've done in their careers? I think about Lydia playing as young as she did; Lexi. How inspirational is that to you?

GIANNA CLEMENTE: Oh, it's super inspirational. I think I've obviously watched all of them on TV, and it's super special to just be out here like watching, but let alone to play is such an amazing experience.

I had an amazing experience in Ottawa, so going to do the same thing this week.

Q. It's August still, barely; almost September. How much school are you missing right now?

GIANNA CLEMENTE: So I'm actually online schooled, so I do it all on the computer. I've had an opportunity to do it, but I've been slacking a little bit.

So, yeah, we're seeing a little bit of overdue marks on my assignments right now. It's okay. I'm going to do it later when I get back to the hotel.

Q. Being familiar with this golf course, having walked it when you were obviously younger, may not remember a whole lot, but how good does your game feel right now and what are some of your goals for the rest of the week?

GIANNA CLEMENTE: I feel really good. I mean, obviously I'm not going to go win this tournament; that's unrealistic.

But I'm just looking forward to going out and playing. Even though this is a long yardage, just looking forward to going out and playing with my dad and just having some fun.

Q. Finally, 14 years old; having this much success, how are you like managing your expectations and just keeping yourself like -- how do you remind yourself that, hey, this is just a really cool opportunity? Are you just constantly saying that over and over when the shots may not go the way that you want them to?

GIANNA CLEMENTE: I think that -- and I've said this before in other interviews -- like the biggest expectation that I have to handle is my own. I set higher expectations for myself than anybody else ever could, which could be a good thing and could be a bad thing.

But I have really high expectations for myself in any tournament that I play in, but I think naturally I'm reminding myself at this tournament that I made it here and that's the big deal.

In the Monday qualifier I was a little bit more focused and serious because I wanted to make it here. I think just making here was s the big deal, and I'm just reminding myself if I don't play good, like it's okay.