WOMEN'S AMATEUR ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP

November 1, 2022

Rina Tatematsu

Taglao Jeeravivitaporn

Pusanisa Ekkantrong

Pimpisa Rubrong

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everyone. We'll make a start. Welcome to our opening press conference of the 2022 Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship. We're very pleased to be joined by four of the Thai players taking part this week, and if you'll bear with me I'll introduce them.

Joined first of all by Rina Tatematsu, Taglao Jeeravivitaporn, Pusanisa Ekkantrong and Pimpisa Rubrong.

What does it mean to you to be competing in this event for the first time?

RINA TATEMATSU: I'm super proud to be representing Thailand, and it's always nice being back home in Thailand to play this event here this year. This is my third time playing in the WAAP. I always gain so much experience and make new friends every year. I just want to enjoy every second of it and have a lot of fun.

TAGLAO JEERAVIVITAPORN: This is my first time here playing the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific. I haven't been back home for a while, so I'm really excited to play this tournament. I heard it's a really good tournament, too, so I'm really excited for that.

Nothing much, just want to play good, have fun. Glad to be back home and spend time with my family. I'll do my best.

PUSANISA EKKANTRONG: Yeah, so it's also my first time, too. So glad to be representing Thailand. It's good to be playing at home course. I'll play as best as I can. Thank you.

PIMPISA RUBRONG: This is my second time playing this tournament. I'm really excited that I can play the Thailand golf course, so I will do my best as I can.

Q. Can you tell us how often you've played Waterside Course and what you feel about the condition of the course at the moment?

RINA TATEMATSU: I played here a long time ago, so maybe twice before, but it's almost 10 years. It feels like the first time for me today. The course was in great condition. The wind was pretty -- makes the course more challenging.

I'm sure Taglao has a better image here because she won a long time ago.

TAGLAO JEERAVIVITAPORN: Yeah, but that was almost 10 years ago, so honestly I cannot remember the conditions back then. But for today, my first practice round for this time, the condition is very nice. The golf course is really fast to play.

The wind is pretty strong today, so I think it's going to make the golf course in the tournament really challenging.

The greens are very slopey. Not a big fan of that, but I'm sure a lot of players are not really a big fan of slopey course, but that's how we get better.

Q. What was the tournament you won here?

TAGLAO JEERAVIVITAPORN: Truition International.

Q. Do you remember what year?

TAGLAO JEERAVIVITAPORN: Oh, too far back.

Q. Was it 2016?

TAGLAO JEERAVIVITAPORN: 2016? Six years ago, wow. So far.

PUSANISA EKKANTRONG: Yeah, I was here last week, and the course and the wind, the weather is very different from today because today the wind is so strong and the greens have a lot of slope, and the weather is very hot today.

Last week, rainy day, yeah, so today is a little bit different from last week.

PIMPISA RUBRONG: I have been playing from when I was young, so the conditions for today is very good. Like the greens are very fast, and it's so windy. It's so challenging.

Q. When you girls come here to play a tournament like this, so many rewards, the AIG Women's Open and many others. Can you tell us what this means, an opportunity like this, to play in a tournament of this stature? First about Atthaya, she is from your country --

RINA TATEMATSU: Yeah, I know her for a long time. When I saw as she became World Number One -- was it today? Yeah, I knew she was going to be pretty soon, but I'm really proud of her and happy that she made it, this successful at a young age.

We keep in touch like once in a while still. I've known her for a long time. It's great news to see.

A lot of past winners at this tournament, WAAP, they're like really successful. It is a great tournament, and I'm just excited, looking forward to competing with the top Asian players.

Q. How long have you known her?

RINA TATEMATSU: Over 10 years. Since we were little.

TAGLAO JEERAVIVITAPORN: I have known her for a long time, too, as well, but I'm way older than her, so I didn't get to play with her that much. But I'm really proud of her. We have some contact, a little bit. I already know that she's going to become World Number One because she worked hard and she played really good.

I mean, we have a lot of good players that play on the LPGA right now. I feel like it's going to be a good field for all of us to get better.

Most of us here, the point is to be on the LPGA. I think it's good practice for us.

PUSANISA EKKANTRONG: Yeah, I have known Atthaya for like four years. We have been close together, because like in camp together, so we have been so close. This tournament, this is a big tournament, and I think it's a great opportunity to play this tournament here.

PIMPISA RUBRONG: I don't know her, but I've heard her name, that she plays very well. I know she can be the Number One in the world. So proud of her.

Q. Just following up, have all of you actually played with her many times, and what are the main strengths of her game? Why do you think she's gotten so far so fast?

RINA TATEMATSU: I think every part of her game is sharp. It's not like just putting or something. She's really good at almost every part of her game.

I think most importantly, I think her attitude is really bright and positive, and it pushes her to become a better version of herself, I guess.

Q. Have you played with her?

RINA TATEMATSU: Yeah, we played together. Not like recently but back when we were in the national team. We have camp, so we played together, and also like when we were little, entering tournaments and stuff. Yeah, we played a couple of times.

Q. (Inaudible.)

RINA TATEMATSU: She was really good from way back then, so yeah.

Q. Can you please tell us some of the important and key holes on this golf course, because you will be knowing it much better than the rest of the field. What are the key holes on this golf course?

RINA TATEMATSU: I don't know if we know is better than other players -- I feel like it's pretty much my first time, but I think just hit the fairway, hit on the green, and then we'll see if we make putt. It's going to be great.

TAGLAO JEERAVIVITAPORN: I'll just give like the same answer. Just fairway, green, avoid the bunkers, avoid the water, get it on the green, make two putts. One putt better. But just keep par. Just keep par. Par is good. Don't try too hard to get birdie because too much pressure and then the game can be like, ooh, wavy. Just keep it like really easy. Make it simple.

PUSANISA EKKANTRONG: Yeah, just concentrate on myself, shot by shot. So make a par or birdie, better. Yeah.

PIMPISA RUBRONG: And I think I not like know that hard because this has the same as on our course in different country, so I think the same.