AMAZINGCRE PORTLAND CLASSIC

September 16, 2022

Esther Henseleit

Columbia Edgewater Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Esther Henseleit after round two of the AmazingCre Portland Classic. We were just talking about that long stretch of birdies you had right there on your back nine, the front nine here, club front nine.

Can you just tell me what was going really well, really right for you in those five holes in a row?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I holed some really good putts. Yeah, like four, five, six good putts and, I don't know, I guess my caddie did a good job because I always had pretty straight uphill putts. (Plane.)

So it was, you know, just middle, just outside, so I had some easy putts and hit the line and they went in, so that went well today, yeah.

Q. Would you say that was the key of your successful round today, your green speed and putting?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, definitely. I had many chances but they were not gimmes. I didn't have like a tap-in birdie at all. Yeah, just the putting.

Q. We were also talking a little bit about the course. What are you finding is the easiest way to find birdies out there? What is it about the course that was suiting your game today?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I think it's really important to hit the fairway here. Then you give yourself good chances. Because it's not super long, so I have some shorter clubs in your hand to go for the greens.

And the greens are rolling pretty true, so that's great, too.

Q. Uh-huh. I see that you're sitting in the co-lead, at least right now, currently going into tomorrow. I know you had a co-lead before earlier this year in Thailand I believe. So just tell me how that experience helped prepare you for tomorrow when you're going to be playing with the top?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: To be honest, it's just great to be here at the moment. I had some pretty rough bumps since Thailand, and it's great to see something coming your way. I just will try to enjoy it and make the best of it and just give myself chances.

Q. Do you mind sharing a little bit about those challenges or rough bumps as you said?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: It's just like -- felt like nothing really came together. I've been working really hard and felt like every part of my game has been improving, but couldn't really get the scores together.

And kind of around the cut line every week; pretty hard mentally if you do that every week. So, yeah, just good that today kind of happened and I didn't have to fight too hard for it.

Q. Yeah. How do you overcome some of those mental challenges? I know it's a lot easier said than done, but you had a great round today. Clearly you've been working on some stuff.

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, I mean, just believe in yourself. It's great. We get a new chance every week, yeah, just wait for your day to come.

Q. Last question: I know you've played here before a couple times. This will be a longer year than the last two you've played here. I know you had like a Top 5 finish last year. Do you recall any memories from last year playing here?

ESTHER HENSELEIT: Yeah, maybe it was Top 5. I thought it was Top 7. I'm not sure.

But it was at a different course.

Q. Yeah.

ESTHER HENSELEIT: I definitely like coming here. I really like the tree-lined courses, so that's great. Especially the climate the last few days reminded me of Germany a little bit, so I just feel good here.