WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

June 17, 2023

Annabelle Pancake

Quick Quotes

Q. You're through to the final of the Women's Amateur Championship, how are you feeling?

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: Feeling very excited, blessed, thankful. Just I don't really have words other than just thank God for this opportunity and the people who put it on. It's just so fun and exciting.

I turned to my mom earlier and was like, "How cool is this, like, that we get to be here doing what we love at a cool place like this," so it's really exciting.

Q. We'll start with this morning's match. You had to play your good friend, Catherine Rao. She beat you in the last U.S. Amateur, so nice to get that one back on her today?

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: It was fun. We joked afterwards. She said, "We're tied now." So now we have to play again in the US Am to hopefully get paired together.

But it was a lot of fun, competitive and kind of back and forth and we had a good time and that's really all that mattered.

Q. And then this afternoon's match, you got off to a really great start. You eagled the second to go 1-up very early. Can you talk us through that one?

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: It was fun. My drive, I actually hit that fairway for the first time ever this week, so that was nice, and then I just hit a really good 3-wood and it kind of -- links golf, it took the slopes perfectly and I had four feet, so it was really fun and cool to see.

Q. You were never down in your match. Is that how you felt? I know that Elin was getting it back to square but you never went down.

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: Yeah, I wasn't paying that much attention to it. I usually have the mindset of beat the golf course and play my game and if they happen to play better than I do, good for them. But my goal is to beat the golf course and make as many birdies as possible.

Q. You come from a real golf family. Talk to us about your connection to golf.

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: So both my parents played, actually met at a golf tournament when they were, like, 15. They both played in college, all my siblings played, two of them played in college. And a lot of us still play now for run.

I'm about to go on vacation after this with my family; we're probably going to play golf. So it's in the genes for sure and it's been a lot of fun but it's a blessing and a curse because sometimes your parents try to coach you and teach you. I've learned to listen to them because they have a lot of knowledge and they have been doing this for a long time. But it's definitely in the family and it's a lot of fun, and we like it that way.

Q. Speaking of learning, when you were out with the family, were you learning to have fun or were you learning to compete?

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: Both. I think we would have fun competing. I love playing with my buddies at home, too. We always trash talk. That's how we play. I wouldn't want it any other way. I think that's why I enjoy golf so much because I enjoy it but it's also competitive.

Q. Who is the best golfer in the family?

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: Probably me. I don't want to, like, brag but I think they would all say that maybe, too, but my dad definitely gives me a run for my money. He can still kick it and shoot in the 70s and maybe even shoot in the 60s so he keeps me competitive, that's for sure.

Q. Tomorrow is going to be another huge day of golf, 36 holes. How are you feeling about that? Where is your mind at at the moment?

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: Just to take it one step at a time, enjoy, it embrace the moment and just thankful to be here. Praying that God gives me the strength to get through it; the joy, the peace to make it through. I know He will, and just have fun with Chiara. That's really what this is all about. It's just a game. So just to enjoy it and have fun.

Q. Chiara obviously has defeated world No. 1 Ingrid Lindblad, and she's obviously in incredible form. Do you think about that at all?

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: No. Not really. I'm just focused on my game and enjoying it and glorifying God in everything I do. Having such a fun day, I just want to embrace and enjoy being here ultimately. I do want to win, but I feel like I've won making it to this point, so just very thankful.

Q. Then quickly looking ahead, obviously there's some huge opportunities for the champion at the end of tomorrow, including in competing in major championships, four of them. Is it hard not to start thinking about that?

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: I actually forgot about it until just now.

So I guess I haven't really paid that much attention. I've just been here to play golf and enjoy it. But I think it's easy to think about that but I mean, I'm not really paying that much attention. If God's will is for me to win, and if not, I'll still walk away really happy and proud of myself knowing it was such a great experience. It would be really cool to get to play in those, though.

Q. Tomorrow is obviously a really big stage and it's going to be, I'm sure, a really high-pressure situation. But that's not something you're foreign to. You competed in an LPGA, a team event. How has that prepared you, and what did you learn from that that you can bring into this tomorrow?

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: I think pressure is something that you put on yourself. Personally I have never really felt pressure because that's -- I feel like that's something I would do to myself.

And personally, my performance is for God only, an audience of one. And so I know if I give it my best all the time and glorify Him in everything I do, then I never feel pressure because I know He'll love me, anyway, and I'm not defined by my golf. So I don't really feel pressure that often unless I put it on myself, which I try not to.

Q. Before we wrap up you did give a shoutout to Mom as your caddie and she's been on the bag with you all week. Has there been any moments where having her caddie for you has been mostly beneficial? Has she given any advice or helped settle you down?

ANNABELLE PANCAKE: Not a ton. But there was a shot a couple -- I don't even know, a couple rounds ago, days ago, I don't really remember, on 12 where she gave me great advice and I hit it to like two feet for eagle I think. Occasionally here and there she'll give me advice but she's mostly there just to push my bag, help me feel relaxed and support me in everything.