LPGA Q-SERIES

December 1, 2022

Nataliya Guseva

Magnolia Grove

Quick Quotes

Q. So a 5-under round to start the long two weeks. How did it feel walking off this last green?

NATALIYA GUSEVA: Yeah, it was awesome. I would say I just enjoyed playing today. Kind of take my time. I didn't -- I wasn't really rushing because I know it's going to be like a marathon of golf, so I'm just like enjoying here playing as just a practice round, because, I mean, eight rounds of golf is just a lot. So, yeah.

Q. And then bogey-free. How did it feel having no mistakes today?

NATALIYA GUSEVA: Oh, yeah, it's awesome. For sure there are some shots that were like you could still make it a little better, but, yeah, I loved it.

Q. And then how do you avoid mistakes out there and what do you think worked best for you on the course?

NATALIYA GUSEVA: I would say just take my time and just discussing everything with the caddie, because, I mean, caddie really helped me today with like avoiding the mistakes and just counting like what club, what wind, and all of that.

Yeah, most of the time I just tried to really like be in my bubble out there; just not to focus on anyone's game and just like play my own.

So, yep.

Q. Awesome. What's the mindset for this week and kind of your goals that you want to accomplish?

NATALIYA GUSEVA: Yeah, for sure LPGA Tour card would be great, but I'm just going to, as I said, enjoy myself and not rush through the rounds and just, you know, take it as it goes, just hit shot by shot.

Yeah, that's pretty much it.

Q. And then you've been in this since Stage I back in August. How do you avoid burnout through the long grind of Q-School, staying positive through Q-I, Q-II, and now Q-Series?

NATALIYA GUSEVA: Yeah, I mean, I was preparing for that for a long time, and it was always my dream playing professional golf. That's why I left from the college like still sophomore. I'm finishing my sophomore semester right now.

I always really wanted to be out here and play with the best ones. I'm just, you know, kind of feeling that this is not really taking it serious, so I'm just taking more like as a practice, yeah.

Q. And then starting back in Q-I, what were your goals heading into that tournament and how have they shifted now getting to the final eight rounds, really having a chance there at the LPGA Tour card?

NATALIYA GUSEVA: Yeah, definitely the second stage was the hardest one because this is -- Stage I you're kind of you have to turn pro and all of that, and so that was probably the hardest like achievement for me.

So I really love that kind of feeling, but now I'm just, you know, out here and just kind of, I don't know, feeling my best.

So, yeah. And just playing golf.

Q. And then like you said, having to turn pro to be able to compete here, how do you kind of make up your mind to turn pro and forfeit your remaining two years of eligibility?

NATALIYA GUSEVA: Yeah, I would say when I was going University of Miami, I already told my coach that I'm going to turn pro in few years. I'm going to go to the Q-School.

I mean, she was always supportive. She's actually here. She just retired from University of Miami, and just very nice to having her here as well.

It's just nice when you're surrounded by people who are really supporting you turning pro, and I have my little team, and it's always nice to have like someone out here.

Q. And then I see you're repping all the Miami gear. What was your favorite part of being on the University of Miami team?

NATALIYA GUSEVA: I would say definitely the team. I enjoy playing college golf with a team and just supporting each girl out there.

Definitely like I had a lot of goals out there, like completing the ACC Freshman of the Year. That was like probably the highlight of my college golf.

So, yeah, I would say this kind of stuff, yeah.

Q. You said your coach is here supporting you this week. You said your caddie has been really helpful. How does it feel to have your former coach out here supporting you, just that extra support system?

NATALIYA GUSEVA: You would say it's awesome. She was on the LPGA. She was an awesome golfer. It's just very nice to get some kind of advice. Like whenever you're nervous or feel pressure it's very nice to have her here because she went through this way.

So I just -- I mean, she was always to me like a mom, so I just feel great and very like thankful for her.

Q. What is your coach's name?

NATALIYA GUSEVA: Patty Rizzo.

Q. Thank you so much.