DIO IMPLANT LA OPEN

March 29, 2023

Ching-Tzu Chen

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome inside the virtual media center here at the DIO Implant LA Open. I'm pleased to be joined by a sponsor invite this week, one of the sponsor invites this week, Ching-Tzu Chen, also known as CCT.

Welcome to one of your first LPGA Tour events here in the States.

CHING-TZU CHEN: Yeah.

Q. How are you feeling as you warm up and get ready for this week's DIO Implant LA Open?

CHING-TZU CHEN: I think just overall because we played like a month ago, so it's also familiar, but not so familiar with like all the tents and everything.

But once I get here, my coaches and my teammates, they were all like supporting and just want me to have fun and really just enjoy out here.

So really appreciate for this opportunity.

Q. So one of the reasons for your sponsor invite is of course your performance here, as you said, a month ago. What do you remember most about that experience and what did you find most successful out there at Palos Verde Golf Club?

CHING-TZU CHEN: I think the golf club were really challenging at some point, about like approach shot, anything.

But once I learned just about where you put, like ball position on the green, and then most of the putting and green reading, so got me pretty prepared. Yeah. (Smiling.)

Q. We were talking a little bit about this, but you've had some experience in qualifiers and around LPGA Tour events. Walk me through what those experiences were like for you.

CHING-TZU CHEN: I play in U.S. Open and Australia when I was 14 and then so that was a long time ago.

But I think every time I tee up for qualifying, and then this is -- I always feel it's an opportunity to learn.

And then always get that mentality going and then always keep it as one of my energy for coming on this journey.

So I think throughout this year and then a lot of people help me to get here, and then to be able to tee up with one of the -- like all the big girls out here, I was really excited and I really thankful for everybody who helped me right now.

Q. For people not familiar with your journey through golf, what has that journey been like for you as you came up into your own at Oregon?

CHING-TZU CHEN: I think the biggest part is the -- my coaches, Coach Derek Radley and Coach Monica Vaughn, and they all really help me through new career until senior now, mand they really take me as a family, as their daughter.

And I think besides like all the support, like Duck Nations, and then we all love them so much and they support us everywhere, every time.

I never feel like I'm alone, even though it's really far from my parents. But it was a really good time here and then I really excited to keep going.

Q. Your parents are back in Taiwan?

CHING-TZU CHEN: Yes.

Q. What's it been like for you kind of coming from Taiwan and coming through Oregon? What's that experience been like for you?

CHING-TZU CHEN: I think I'm able to go back during a summer break and winter break, so I still get to see my parents quite a lot I think.

But I think my parents back home, they always send me a lot of encouragement through message and FaceTiming. They always share their daily life with me and make me keep in touch with them.

And then I also really thankful for them like letting me know I can grow up as my individual person. So they gave me a lot of the freedom and knowing I can be independence one day.

Q. I love that. Now that you're here on this huge stage, on the LPGA Tour, on Golf Channel, what are some of the things this week that you've been mesmerized by?

CHING-TZU CHEN: I think just knowing when I look around range, when I look around the putting green, see all the players out here, they really focus on their own ability, performance, and really put a lot of hard work in.

I think that's really inspired me about something different than college event because we play as a team. Right now once you're out here you're kind of like on your own.

And then that's a really strange like powerful figure to me, so I -- I'm just really inspired every moment when I'm here.

Q. I love that. We talked a little bit about you had a nice experience in the practice round yesterday.

CHING-TZU CHEN: Oh, yeah. I play with Karen Chung, and then I also play back nine with Charley Hull. It's just like really cool about I remember couple years ago when Swinging Skirts was hosting Taiwan and I was following Charley Hull, and then I still remember she was hitting like really close to the par-3 on No. 17.

And then it was just like amazing how I get to play with her during practice round. I text my dad and said, hey, I played practice round, back nine with Charley Hull. He's like, oh, my God. Is that the one that finish top 10 last week? Yes, she is. So those are really cool experiences.

Q. I like that tidbit there.

CHING-TZU CHEN: Yeah.

Q. For you, is professional golf the way you want to go?

CHING-TZU CHEN: I was really into professional golf when I was little, even like growing up. Right now as going to college and then receive a lot of different education, and then I also found out I'm really interesting in psychology, so I'm trying to -- I'm applying to grad school in Oregon and get another year eligibility.

And then I think I will take it as a really good experiences for play another like -- just like a little Epson Tour in college. And then, yeah, my ultimate goal will be playing professional golf.

Q. For this week specifically have you had any goals in mind or are you just looking to take it one shot at time?

CHING-TZU CHEN: I really just want to stay present and really enjoy the moment with all the players out here. And then really try to receive a lot of learning experiences for me.

Q. What are some things that are most challenging about this golf course out here? You obviously had some success, but it is set up a little differently from your college experience.

CHING-TZU CHEN: Uh-huh.

Q. What are some of the those dings?

CHING-TZU CHEN: I think there is like couple tee box were like behind for my college event, and then obviously it rains quite a lot after we finished the tournament so the rough looks a little like big.

But just like keep in the fairway and stay one shot at a time. My coaches say, yeah, you will just be fine. Just be yourself.

Q. Absolutely. I know across the way is the first round of the ANWA, Augusta National Women's Amateur.

CHING-TZU CHEN: Yes.

Q. Do you have any friends competing?

CHING-TZU CHEN: Yes.

Q. Have you texted them?

CHING-TZU CHEN: Yeah. Two of my teammates Hsin-Yu Lu, Cynthia, and then and Briana Chacon, and they all playing pretty good. I was just texting them about really good round and then like just enjoy yourself out there, yeah.

Q. Have you got any words of encouragement from the Oregon community?

CHING-TZU CHEN: Yes, uh-huh. My teammates were really supportive, and then throughout even our practice round, our practice days through Monday they were just saying hey, enjoy yourself out there. They were asking me like what's the experience, how was your practice.

Then like -- Coach D and Coach Mo really just like being here with me. Coach Mo is my assistant coach, Monica Vaughn, she's come to go watch my play as well. That would be really cool.

THE MODERATOR: Best of luck this week and thank you for stopping by.

CHING-TZU CHEN: Thank you.