DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL

July 20, 2023

Kelly Tan

Matilda Castren

Midland Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with Kelly Tan and Matilda Castren again. Carrying the momentum in from yesterday. Obviously different format, but what was the best part of the game out there today?

KELLY TAN: I thought we ham-and-egged really well today. I was just talking to my caddie/husband that the hole that I'm out, she seems to step it up, and the holes she's out, I seem to step it up.

Yeah, definitely we played the team game really well today.

THE MODERATOR: I know obviously this is a team competition, but I'm wondering, do you guys ever compete with each other out there, like who is going to hit it closer, who is going to birdie this hole? Is there any fun competition that goes on at all?

MATILDA CASTREN: I think there's some -- we're competitors by nature. We do this for a living, so I think it would be kind of odd if there wasn't any of that.

But, I mean, it's never like -- it's always friendly competition, and we're always so happy for each other.

KELLY TAN: Yeah.

MATILDA CASTREN: I think both of us are always happy to make the first birdie.

THE MODERATOR: Who was it today? Who was dropping the birdies out there?

MATILDA CASTREN: Both of us.

KELLY TAN: Like I said, yeah, I made the first birdie for us, and then Matilda got on a streak in the middle of the round. I ended one on ninth hole, so I think we did well.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah I don't know who made more, but I think both of us made a lot of birdies and made a lot of good putts. She holed two pretty long ones. That's always nice.

THE MODERATOR: Obviously you guys remember finishing runner-up last year. Looking for the win this year. How important is tomorrow going to be just going back to the alternate shot format, which is obviously a little harder?

KELLY TAN: Yeah. I think all we are going to take for tomorrow is how well we did yesterday. Obviously we were in sync, and we were comfortable. We were confident for each other.

So I think that's a very positive trait that we can take into tomorrow, and hopefully we do the same and give ourselves a chance.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah. All we want to do is put ourselves in a good position. I think we can be really happy how we played yesterday and have that same kind of comfort level going into tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Speaking of last year, I was looking up some stats from last year. You guys were a 130 at this point last year. Now you're 127. How have your rounds improved since last year, or how has your, I guess, course management here maybe improved?

KELLY TAN: I think the biggest thing for us was the alternate shot yesterday because I felt like we played as well with best ball. I don't know what we shot, but I felt like the alternate shot yesterday really was the difference between this year and last year.

I don't know. I felt like we played good, and we were more comfortable, I would say. I'm more comfortable for sure. That's the only difference I can think of.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, I don't think -- I'm not, like, looking back into last year that much. Obviously it's a new year and new week for us on the same course, but just trying to play our best games.

And like we've said, we're really comfortable playing with each other and just having fun out there and just trying to do our best.

THE MODERATOR: Speaking of tomorrow, and last question here, how much are you guys going to enjoy these walk-up songs? I know every year it's the most fun out here. Any dances? Anything planned?

KELLY TAN: Mattie doesn't like dancing, so I don't think we're going to do any dance.

MATILDA CASTREN: I don't like to embarrass myself.

KELLY TAN: We picked a fun song because just from the past experiences it's not the matter what song we like. It's a matter if the crowd enjoys that song or if they're up-to-date with that song.

I think we picked a good one, and hopefully it will be fun.

THE MODERATOR: "Party in the USA;" right?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yes. The weather is supposed to be great tomorrow, so I'm sure the stands will be full, and it's going to be a great atmosphere on 18.

THE MODERATOR: I'm looking forward to the party then. Thank you.