KROGER QUEEN CITY CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY P&G

September 9, 2022

Sarah Kemp

Kenwood Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Sarah Kemp. Another solid day. I know you had one dropped shot late; weren't super happy with that, but heck of a round up until that point.

SARAH KEMP: Yeah, I played really solid again, especially on the front. I started to get a little tired. I said to Lisa kind of with about five or six to play, I feel myself getting a little tired.

I left a couple putts out there and had the bogey on 17. We said at the beginning of the day, let's get to double digits, so I'm not really disappointed at all. Goal ticked.

Q. Any of those birdies stand out in particular?

SARAH KEMP: They were -- yeah, I had a couple of really nice ones on the front. Just some good wedge shots. I can't remember. I'm having a mental blank.

Q. All good.

SARAH KEMP: I hit a couple really good wedge shots mainly. The shorter holes I think I birdied the wedges and holed like ten-footers and stuff like that. Yeah.

Q. Two days of less than 30 putts. I know putting is something that you tend to try to really focus in on. What have you found that's been working, or has anything really been working or just finally making them?

SARAH KEMP: Yeah, just finally making them. I rolled the ball really well last week and sort of made nothing, and then made a bunch in Canada. Didn't hit it as well and made a bunch in Canada.

So I wasn't too concerned with last week. I literally made nothing and missed the cut. But not by much. I hit it great so I wasn't too -- you can kind of tell when you hit a bad putt and I knew I wasn't hitting any bad putts and I just needed to be patient.

So just sort of been putting, rolling it nicely, and this week, you know, matched my speed a little better and they're going in.

Q. You said you got a little tired out there. We're at the part of the season where things get a little hairy. We spoke about that a little bit yesterday. How do you manage your energy? I know it's hard when you're in the mix, grinding out there trying to save a really good round.

SARAH KEMP: Yeah, you know, you kind of sit -- I wish I could sleep in a little bit later. I was up at 7:00 and I'm in the hotel room for five hours before I get to come out here.

So I need to sleep in. Probably because I went to bed so early and woke up early I think I'm going to try and stay up later and see if I can sleep in a little bit more tomorrow.

But, yeah, you know, just keeping hydrated. I didn't have a banana with me, but that probably would've done the trick. So hydration, eating, yeah, bit more sleep. All of the above.

Q. Heading into the weekend in contention. You've been there a couple times this season, near the top of the leaderboard. I think LOTTE was one the big times. Three back. Does anything change? I know people say stick to the game plan, but if you have nothing to lose are you going out there and just kind of going for it?

SARAH KEMP: No, not in my situation, because I kind of have -- yeah, I sort of need a good week. I hate saying that word, but...

Well, I don't need it this week, but I need one in the next sort of four or five events. It would be great to have it this week, but I'm not putting too much pressure on myself because I feel like I'm playing good.

If it doesn't happen this week I've got some good chances coming up. I was speaking to my coach, John Serhan, in Australia, and I told him, I'm not panicking because I'm playing great. So, he knows.

I call him when I'm not playing well and I feel like I really need some help, but I actually feel like I'm -- I know where the ball is going to go, and so that's really a nice place to be.

Yeah, kind of keep doing the same thing as I have the first two days, and, yeah, we'll see how it goes.

Q. And then finally, black ribbon or your hat. Obviously lost the Queen yesterday. Not sure a lot of Americans know, but that is also Australia's Queen. What are the emotions? Are you feeling -- I mean, obviously feeling something wearing the black ribbon.

SARAH KEMP: Yeah, it's really sad. I watched it all morning and spoke to some family back home. It's a really big deal back there. You're right, she was our Queen. She's on my 50 cent piece that I use every week. She's on the back of it, so I thought of her a lot today actually.

Yeah, obviously super sad for my British mates. I spoke to a couple of them and they were pretty emotional. It's a really big deal. She was great. It's a sad day.

Q. I will say not to abruptly flip it to a happy situation, but in contention on the weekend. What are you looking forward to Saturday and Sunday?

SARAH KEMP: Yeah, just trying to have fun. Again, this is what I play golf for, so no matter what happens, it's just fun to be in that environment.

Yeah, lots of people out there and cameras around, and the nerves. As much as it sounds intimidating, it's really what I'm trying to achieve, so I'm excited for that.