U.S. ADAPTIVE OPEN

July 10, 2023

Natasha Stasiuk

Pinehurst Resort & C.C. (Course No. 6)

Press Conference

Q. Natasha Stasiuk, tied for second right now --

NATASHA STASIUK: I didn't even know.

Q. You're four back of the overall lead. Seemed like a lot of action on your card today. Can you walk us through your round?

NATASHA STASIUK: Like how my day was? Is that how you want me to say?

Q. Yes.

NATASHA STASIUK: I just stuck through it even though I did cry on the last hole. Nobody saw me, thank God.

I didn't give up. I recently broke my ankle back in March, and I thought I couldn't play, which was tough, and I just -- as my mom and my dad say, I'm a tough cookie. I didn't give up even though I struggled.

I could have done better than what I shot, but I know golf is a love-hate relationship.

Q. I know you made a birdie coming in on No. 9. How was that hole?

NATASHA STASIUK: I didn't even know I had a birdie. My dad kept it quiet. I thought I was going for a par, and he said, you got a 3. I was like, a what? I got a 3? I'm pretty happy I got a 3 on the last hole.

Q. Overall how would you say you felt you played today?

NATASHA STASIUK: I thought I played pretty good. I tried to stay calm even though there was some thoughts that came into my head. I tried to let them go. But sometimes they'd just stick in my head, and I'd just try to push it out.

Overall I thought I played pretty well, and I think I can do better tomorrow. Praying. Hopefully it doesn't rain. I didn't like the rain.

Q. Last year you played out here and had never shot better than 80. What's gone into this year to get you to where you're shooting scores like this?

NATASHA STASIUK: Hitting it straighter. I have not used a driver at all. The goal was not to use the driver because it's a disaster. Another story to be told. Just keep it straight and just keep calm.

Q. What was it like coming back here, coming to the same place you were at last year?

NATASHA STASIUK: Pretty memorable, and kind of remember some of the memories from last year. It's nice to have somebody else with me, Tess Trojan. It's nice to have another woman from Canada and I'm not the only one now. Even though I'm competing against her, but I still like to have fun with her, too.

Q. There's been a lot of talk about there's a lot more women in the field this year. What is it like getting to see them, passing them in the practice round, practice areas?

NATASHA STASIUK: It's nice to see new women, new people. It's nice to see the old ones, but it's also nice to see the new ones coming in. It's more inclusive, if that's the word.