DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL

July 20, 2023

Paula Reto

Amelia Lewis

Midland Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with our clubhouse leaders after round two of the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, Amelia Lewis, Paula Reto. Another great day carrying off your momentum from yesterday. Sort of how did you manage to carry that momentum over? What were the keys today?

AMELIA LEWIS: Well, we had a slow start with the rain delay, but then when we got back out there. We gave ourselves a little pep talking and just said, one shot at a time, and let's give ourselves good opportunities.

We made a lot of birdies. This one especially. It was fun watching her all day. Just put ourselves in a really good spots.

THE MODERATOR: I mean, Paula, for you, as you said, you made a lot of birdies, but how good is it to have a partner you know you can do well for or can help you pick up the slack when you don't?

PAULA RETO: It feels good just having her by my side knowing you can play this game together. It's so much more fun, and a lot more pressure is off of ourselves as well.

I really enjoyed it. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to the next two days.

THE MODERATOR: I see an eagle here on, what hole is that, five? Yes, five. Take us through that. I hear it's your eagle, Paula.

PAULA RETO: That's when we had our pep talk. I was, like, Hey, Amelia, let's not try too hard because we want to make birdies. Especially playing best balls you think you're supposed to make a lot of birdies because of the format.

So I said, hey, one good shot at a team, try to give ourselves opportunities, don't worry about my game. I'm not going to worry about your game. Once have you that sort of mindset, you're out there playing your own game. It got a little better.

I hit a little shot to the right. Everyone else was in the fairway. I was, like, It's okay. I got a good little line open to the flag.

I was, like, 10 yards. The wind was helping, so I hit one club less, and I hit it really strong, nice. Okay, it's going to be close, and then, bang, one hop and then in the hole.

So I was, like, okay, this could be the start of the birdie train.

THE MODERATOR: Did you even hit Amelia after that?

AMELIA LEWIS: No, it was nice.

PAULA RETO: You picked up on the fairway.

THE MODERATOR: I love that. I know you guys said you got off to a rough start, but how freeing is the four-ball format after coming off an alternate shot format, which I know is a little harder?

AMELIA LEWIS: It was fun actually. We could be a lot more aggressive. We definitely attacked more pins today. I think that's why we made so many birdies.

THE MODERATOR: Going into tomorrow when you switch back into foursomes, how important is, I guess, that round going to be when you know you have the trophy on your mind? That's going to be the hardest day left, so how important is this round going to be, this next round?

PAULA RETO: Well, you know, it's just like another day. We're just going to keep with our same mindset we had the first day. You know, we will trust each other.

She knows which shots she needs to hit off the tee. I know what shots I need to hit. Give ourselves the best chance to make par. If birdie creeps in, great, steal them and keep building off of that.

I think that will be it. I don't think we can think about what's ahead. We need to think about what we need to do the day of. I think that will be good for us.

THE MODERATOR: Amelia, looking at some of your stats. You've never held a post-round lead on the LPGA Tour; correct?

AMELIA LEWIS: Correct.

THE MODERATOR: How does it feel to see your name at the top of the leaderboard?

AMELIA LEWIS: It feels great. I've been playing great golf all year, so it's nice to see that up top and have a partner that's been there before too kind of guiding me. It's a good feeling.

THE MODERATOR: You have been there before, Paula, but it's great to see it again; right? How much momentum, confidence does that give you?

PAULA RETO: I mean, we strive for these moments. We want to be in those last groups. We want to play well.

It's something we want to do out here, so it's good to see that. I haven't played my greatest this year either, but managed to do a few good changes these last two, three weeks. I even took off last week just so I could make sure to implement these good changes.

Yeah, a lot of same feelings I had last year with my swing. So like I said, I think the best for us will be not to think too much about it, think about what we can do the day of, think about what we can do right in that moment so we don't get ahead of ourselves and put extra pressure on.

THE MODERATOR: Do you mind sharing what sort of changes you've been thinking about?

PAULA RETO: Yes. Okay, it's mostly swing things. Then that sort of relates into that mental game a little bit, but small things. Where I deliver the club back down to impact was one of the biggest things. You know, going out of my posture, that kind of thing.

So just being a little bit more disciplined with it, but I needed some time to do it, so yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Last question. Tomorrow obviously an important day, but also a fun day. You're going to have your walk-up songs coming down, have your team names announced. How much are you looking forward to the environment and just having fun out there as you make that walk down 18?

AMELIA LEWIS: I think we're both really looking forward it. We look forward to this event all year. We plan it in January which outfits we're going to wear. We're just looking forward to tomorrow and just this whole week.

PAULA RETO: And the crowds and everybody that comes out. Everybody is so supportive, and our charity, they've been following us today and yesterday all day, even after the rain. That's just really nice to see.

Then we'll have our walk-up song and enjoy that music.

THE MODERATOR: You have great support.

AMELIA LEWIS: Yes.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, ladies.