THE ASCENDANT LPGA BENEFITING VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA

October 1, 2022

Maddie Szeryk

Golf Clubs at The Tribute

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Maddie Szeryk. Second 67 of the week. I know you stalled a little bit yesterday, but rekindled the magic from the first round. Just walk me through your day.

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah, it was really exciting. I just came in today and was like let's just make a lot of -- you know, let's focus on making birdies, and can't control anything else.

So just trying to have fun and enjoy having my family and friends out here. Just played really solid and made some really good up and downs. I'm like, that was a good par, and let's good to the next.

Q. Any of those up and downs stand in and out particular?

MADDIE SZERYK: I had a couple on the back nine that were just really -- I think on 11 the par-3 I kind of hit it a little long, long par-3. I'm like, you know. It was not a great lie and hit it to like six, seven feet and made the putt.

I'm like, that's a good par.

Q. Got out of there pretty unscathed, which is not what the rest of the field can say today. Taking advantage of that at this position, like what does that tell you about the state of your game?

MADDIE SZERYK: I think I'm just really excited for tomorrow. I was feeling good coming into the week, and just trying to enjoy myself. I love being out here, and just to really feed into that and enjoy having the fans out and family and friends.

Q. I talked to you back when you were in high school.

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah.

Q. The fact that you're so close to Allen here, does this bring back those memories a little bit?

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah, for sure. It's just so nice to be home. I get to stay at home this week, which is very rare. Just trying to really soak it all in.

Q. You really needed a tournament like this.

MADDIE SZERYK: Uh-huh.

Q. Just looking at your season. Confidence maybe?

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah, definitely. I came into this week, and, you know, we're getting close to the cut line for second stage, and just try to tell myself, you know, it is what it is. If I have to go back to second, that's okay. I'm playing well. So it just kind of is what it is.

Q. Was there anything in particular that you changed going into this week?

MADDIE SZERYK: Just a few swing changes. I changed my putting a little bit. Just minor changes just after having some coaches out, and I think that's made a huge difference.

Q. The fans, I watched a few of your holes. You just really seem to draw off that support you got today.

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And I had a lot of family up in Canada as well. Just same atmosphere. Just love having everybody out.

You know, it's exciting. My family doesn't get to come to many events, so just being able to have them is awesome.

Q. Play under the Canadian flag but you're a Texan, too, right?

MADDIE SZERYK: Yes.

Q. How does that work?

MADDIE SZERYK: Well, both my parents are from Canada, like grew up there. We have a lot of family up there. So I spent summers and Christmas there when I was young.

Q. But you were born here?

MADDIE SZERYK: I was, yeah.

Q. So you have dual --

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah, dual citizenship.

Q. Obviously putted pretty solid the last three days. 25, 28, 26 today.

MADDIE SZERYK: Wow.

Q. What change did you make that's worked on these greens?

MADDIE SZERYK: Just kind of I was really -- my follow-through was way too long for putting, and then we kind of narrowed my stance a little bit just to have better speed control. It was way past or way short, so it's just been a lot more consistent the last few days.

Q. Just mindset heading into tomorrow? Nothing to lose as we just mentioned.

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah.

Q. Pretty exciting I would imagine.

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah, very excited. And just the same mindset as today. I'm going to try my best, and it is what it is. I worked hard and so has everybody else.

I just hope to play well and just be confident and have fun really.

Q. I know you got in as an alternate this week.

MADDIE SZERYK: Uh-huh.

Q. And you're still on the alternate list last week. How gratifying is it to play so well out here and prove that you belong at the top?

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah, exactly. It's been so amazing. That's kind of -- I'm happy to be playing, and last week just barely missed getting in; next week is still up in the air.

And so just the same mindset of it is what it is and I'm doing my best that I can. Just trying to enjoy it. The cut off is coming up, but I'm just trying to focus on my game and just playing and just having fun really.