U.S. WOMEN'S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 21, 2022

Jennifer Peng

Fiddlesticks Country Club (Long Mean Course)

Quote Quotes

Q. Obviously a disappointing finish, but just tell us about this week. Tell us about this experience.

JENNIFER PENG: Yeah, I mean, this week has been incredible. When we were driving back, I was talking to my brother. I was like, it's been a marathon because last year, first match I was out. Being out here -- how many rounds is that? Sixth round, fifth round?

Q. This would have been your sixth, because fourth match, and -- no, fifth, so seventh round.

JENNIFER PENG: Yeah, seventh round out here, it's been everything you could ask for and more. Krissy played phenomenal today. She truly deserved that win. I'm super excited for her for tomorrow.

I think my goal is to come back and improve every year, so I definitely improved on last year, and looking forward to coming back next year and doing better.

Q. What did you take with you from last year? Obviously similar result in stroke play, but you made a much deeper run this year. Was there anything that you did differently? Did the ball just bounce in a different direction for you?

JENNIFER PENG: No, I honestly didn't really do anything differently. Last year I played Aliea and she had a great round. I sort of still did my same thing. This year I've had a lot of good matches coming up to the semifinals, and just really focused on myself and my game, knowing where I needed to hit it and what I had to do. So it got me to here, and I'm really proud of myself.

It's disappointing, but I still consider myself a winner making it this far.

Q. Tell us a little bit about today. Parts of three matches that you had to go through, round 16, quarterfinals and then the semis. How do you mentally and physically go through that round?

JENNIFER PENG: Yeah, right. I totally we got we finished up 16s in the morning. I was like, 2-up, two holes, just go out there, do my thing. The second match against Meghan was a great match. We went all the way to 18.

Before that it was really kind of like, I know at this point where I need to put my ball, how the greens are rolling, and kind of just played the same game.

Then on the last match in the semi, was kind of doing the same things. Some putts didn't roll in. But that's golf.

It's been super, super fun. Yeah, honestly nothing different mentally. Physically I could definitely feel my body was a little more exhausted, so definitely just trying to keep the same tempo and keep the same swing.

Q. Any key moments in the match today that will stick out for you?

JENNIFER PENG: Key moments in the match? Like any of the matches?

Q. This afternoon in particular.

JENNIFER PENG: Yeah, I mean, this afternoon -- what hole is that? I'm trying to think what the first par-5 on the second nine is. Is that 11 or 12?

Q. No. 11.

JENNIFER PENG: Yeah, on No. 11, going in, I was 2-down, and I usually play a bit of a safer drive off the tee and use my 3-wood and today I was like, it's a front pin. If I hit two great shots I can almost be up by the green and make sure I get a birdie.

Hit a driver, was nicely where I wanted it, and then hit a 3-wood and was sort of -- had a 15-yard chip for eagle and I hit that close and made birdie, and I think that helped get that momentum going a little bit into the back nine.

Q. Was there anything from the two matches earlier that stuck out?

JENNIFER PENG: Yeah, against Meghan, we were all square going into 17. She hit first, was sort of on the right side, and then I knew the last two holes, I hit a 7-iron to five feet, made the birdie to go 1-up into 18. I think that really helped secure the match for me.