U.S. MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 15, 2022

Josh Persons

Erin Hills

Quick Quotes

Q. Quite a day for you. You took out two past champions, two guys that have had great amateur careers, both played in the Walker Cup. Where does this day rank in your golfing career?

JOSH PERSONS: Oh, it was a lot of fun. I mean, I feel like we've been here for a month. That's not saying it's a bad experience, right; everything has been great. But we had the weather delays, and then I don't know even how many holes I ended up playing today.

It was just a lot of fun. They're both good guys. We hit some good shots out there.

Q. Stewart has obviously been playing well, and Scott. They're very good players, clearly, but were you aware of who you were playing or was it one of those things where you've got to play whoever is on the sheet? What was that mental part of --

JOSH PERSONS: Both. I mean, it is what it is. I know who those guys are, right. They're both great players. They're big names in the game, in the amateur game.

But it is what it is. They have to put a tee in the ground just like I do. We just kind of hit it and see what happens.

Q. What made you come back to the amateur game after being on the Korn Ferry and the Canadian Tour?

JOSH PERSONS: Just didn't quite make it. Wasn't quite good enough. At the very end of my career, I did have some injuries, but I'm not blaming anything on that. It's just kind of life. Put a lot of stress on my body for a lot of years. I got healthy. I feel better. Just worked out. I'm starting to have a little bit more time to practice and play.

I guess it's working this week, so we'll see what happens.

Q. Are you enjoying your second half of your golfing life?

JOSH PERSONS: Absolutely. Look, I'm getting Scott's phone number and we're talking. This is what it's all about, meeting new guys, having a blast, but at the same time we're competing. He wanted to beat me just as bad as I wanted to beat him.

We had a great time, and we're hanging around good dudes.

Q. Let's talk about this match in particular because you had a 3-up lead and he came back and tied up. What was going on with you mentally during that stretch to see your lead evaporate there?

JOSH PERSONS: You know, honestly, it is what it is. He gave me a couple, I gave him a couple back, and then he hit some great shots. He hit it to four or five feet from 220 yards and made birdie. He made a nice 15-, 20-footer right on top of me right after I made one. He just knows how to play, and I was just lucky I survived. I got the birdie just a little bit quicker in the extra holes than he did.

Q. Tell me about that birdie on the 21st hole, how you did it.

JOSH PERSONS: You know what's funny, I birdied that hole three times today, or twice today, and I birdied it yesterday. It's just been kind of -- I don't know, I've felt comfortable. I had a good club into it every single time, and I just thankfully hit good shots.

Q. What was your yardage and what did you hit in there today?

JOSH PERSONS: I had 179, and I hit a 7-iron in there.

Q. And about how long was the putt?

JOSH PERSONS: A foot and a half.

Q. And he conceded it?

JOSH PERSONS: Yeah.

Q. You mentioned at the start, it feels like a month. Matt McClean was saying he didn't know what day it was. What has that been like just in terms of -- there's a physical part of it, but the mental part of it.

JOSH PERSONS: Yeah, it is what it is. They've got to do the same thing I do. I think Stewart said it best last night. I was hitting a couple balls to wind down a little bit, and he goes, as long as they keep giving us tee times, we'll keep showing up. He's got a great attitude, and that's a great way to put it.

Q. Do you think there's something in the water in Fargo? You're not the first guy that's done well in the Mid-Amateur and other events from that area.

JOSH PERSONS: Yeah, I've got to throw some props out to Mike Podolak. He called me last night and we had a good talk. He said, keep making putts. Yeah, he's had some success.

I don't know, we have a lot of guys that like to compete there, and a good program, they give us access to playing golf, and that's important to the community, important to country clubs. That's something -- I've got a friend out here that's on the board at the golf course, and we're making sure we keep that battle going, just keep kids playing, and access I think is what Fargo gives us, and then you've got guys competing all the time and like to win.

Q. Tomorrow now in the semifinal; will some of the experiences you had as a pro, will that help you mentally entering tomorrow's play?

JOSH PERSONS: Certainly. I mean, it's a little bit different. Your livelihood doesn't depend on it. This is fun at the same time. But of course you get nervous and have a little fun, but yeah, I'm going to rely on some of that experience, and hopefully it works out.