LPGA Q-SERIES

December 11, 2022

Valery Plata

Magnolia Grove

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Valery Plata. Got an LPGA Tour card. Just turned professional this year. To have that happen to you so early, just put it into words. What are you feeling right now?

VALERY PLATA: I'm kind of a slow processor when it comes to these things, but I'm obviously really happy. Yeah, just proud of the work I've been putting in in the last like month, you know with Stage II being moved to later, these two weeks, and it's been like a crazy month for me.

But I'm just really happy to see it come to this end, and, yeah, excited.

Q. To play as well as you did today, I feel like Sunday is always the worst day out here for obvious reasons. What was going through your head today?

VALERY PLATA: Yeah, you know, one of my really good friends texted me today. She was like, enjoy the walk today, and that's kind of my thought when I started playing. I was like, all right I'm just going to enjoy this. That's almost the only thing I have left to do, so that's what I was trying to do.

I hit some really good shots and some good putts, and then like got a little shaky a little bit out there, but, yeah, just got right back in it.

Then finished out with three good holes. Yeah, just really happy overall.

Q. I know you were telling me a few days ago when you were thinking about being on the LPGA Tour it was making you a little bit emotional. I know you're a slow processor, but now that it's here, are you feeling any of those emotions?

VALERY PLATA: Oh, yeah, for sure. I might not show it right now just because of what we're doing, but, yeah, I'm definitely -- just like the thought of it just kind of makes me kind of want to cry.

So, yeah, I'm just happy and, yeah, kind of at a loss for words. Said the word happy like 20 times already.

Q. There is not a lot of Colombians on the LPGA Tour. We talked about Mariajo and now yourself. What does it mean to be able to represent your country in that way on the LPGA Tour?

VALERY PLATA: It means the world to me. I've always taken great pride in representing my country, whether it's amateur golf or everywhere. Just makes me proud. I think it's fun to have kind of a reference when you're a young kid, so I hope I'm that for younger people back home. I'm excited for what is to come in Colombian golf.

Q. If you were to be told at the beginning of this year -- you were a senior in college -- that you would be standing here in Q-Series, finished in the Top 5, and had an LPGA Tour card in hand, what would you have said?

VALERY PLATA: I probably wouldn't have believed it. I had a crazy August and July. I played kind of everywhere and Stage I was kind of thrown in the middle of that. So that week was tough.

And then I headed over back to Europe after that, so it was crazy. Then to see to come to this, I mean, I wouldn't have believed you, like I said.

Q. Finally, I have to ask about it: So while we're standing here, you get an LPGA Tour card, you have great status for next year. You have finals next week.

VALERY PLATA: Yeah.

Q. I know won't be able to take too much time to celebrate, but will you take the next couple days at least to let it sink in a little?

VALERY PLATA: Yeah, for sure. At least today and tomorrow. I've got to get back to school, and Tuesday I have three things to do. But, I mean, I'm going to take those easy. I feel like I kind of deserve it.

I'll pass. That's all I'm going to say.

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