DANA OPEN PRESENTED BY MARATHON

July 16, 2023

Mia Hammond

Highland Meadows Golf Club

Quick Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Here with the 15-year-old superstar this week Mia Hammond. Mia, when did you notice the crowds there going through today?

MIA HAMMOND: The first tee. After they announced my name I just kind of heard everyone clap and it was just kind of the realization at that point. I feel like I toned it out for the most part. I really noticed again pretty much on like 16 and 17, specifically 17, just all those people behind the green. It's great to hear people cheering your name and cheering you on. I never experienced it before.

THE MODERATOR: When you were going through the round today, walk me through what those closing holes were like for you.

MIA HAMMOND: Yeah, so my main goal today was just pars all around. It's been a great week so far and it's, like, just play steady, play even. I obviously wanted to get a few back from the middle of my round, but I managed. The last few I had a couple close shots, missed a few putts here and there. But a couple fell on the last two holes. So it was very relieving.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Large crowds on 17 and 18 like you said. How big of a thrill was it to finish in style with birdies on both those holes?

MIA HAMMOND: It was great. It's just amazing to hear people cheer for you, cheer your name. It's a feeling that not many people get to experience. I'm so grateful for it.

Q. Did you have any estimate on how many people you knew that were here today?

MIA HAMMOND: I would say 25 probably. So a lot of family friends, family, people that have been with me the whole way.

Q. How much -- it's still kind of in the moment, I'm sure it's settled in a little bit, but like how long do you think it's going to take for, I don't know, things to settle down and understand what happened this week?

MIA HAMMOND: I would give it a couple days. I'm still kind of in shock that this whole tournament even happened. I know I said it's been a dream of mine to play on the LPGA Tour. Hopefully a future career of mine as well. So it's good to get a feel what it's like, but I think I'll finally get realization of what actually happened in a couple of days.

Q. Going forward, how big of a benefit was this being around all the best players? Obviously you played well, you played in front of big crowds, just so many positives to take from it.

MIA HAMMOND: Yeah, so it's just great to get an idea of where I personally need to improve. Everyone out here has amazing short games, they're really, really great putters. That's always been my weaker spots and I see now that I need to put even more work in than I have been. But I'm excited to put the work in and see where it takes me.

THE MODERATOR: What are your plans for the rest of this summer and what do you do after an event like this?

MIA HAMMOND: So actually for this event we're heading straight to Chicago, Illinois for the Western Am. So not really much of a break after this one. But I have a couple weeks after that and just kind of decompress, take a couple of days off, just to kind of, I guess, rebuild my strength and then get back to work and head for the next tournament. I believe that's in September.

THE MODERATOR: When does school start again?

MIA HAMMOND: August 18th.

THE MODERATOR: So that's also on the horizon for you.

MIA HAMMOND: Absolutely.

THE MODERATOR: One more thing from me, but your family has been here all week, your dad's been on your bag, you've been having the biggest smile and biggest hugs when you come off. Just to be able to share this entire experience with your family by your side, what has that been like for you?

MIA HAMMOND: It's so amazing. I know a lot of them have always said, Hey, we want to come watch you play. And this was opportunity. And I think it was the perfect week for everyone to be out here. I really want to thank my coach Kyle Morris, as well as the general manager at Zanesville Country Club, Mike Kaido. They have been with me every step of the way. As well as my parents, aunts and uncles, grand parents. It's still so unreal that I'm finally to my goal and they were alongside it with me.

THE MODERATOR: All right. Well, thank you, Mia.

MIA HAMMOND: Thank you.