DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL

July 22, 2023

Matilda Castren

Kelly Tan

Midland Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: I'm here with Kelly Tan and Matilda Castren after their play at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. I'll first start with, we had a rain delay out there today, and you two were probably sitting together. Was there anything you kind of were talking about while you were hanging out upstairs?

KELLY TAN: Yeah, we weren't at the same table, but I don't think it was anything golf-related. We just kind of were trying to grab a bite and, yeah, just wait and see.

MATILDA CASTREN: Figure out flights. I had to change my flight. That was it.

THE MODERATOR: Headed back out to the course, what was going through your mind through some of the last few holes?

KELLY TAN: Definitely making birdies. You know, the leaderboard was pretty packed, and just before they blew the horn, Mattie hit it tight on 13.

Yeah, there were just some really good holes coming back, and we've done great the last two days, and we did. Just, unfortunately, we fell a shot shy.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, I was just focused on making that putt on 13. I knew it would give us some momentum, and it did. We finished great. But, yeah, just like Kelly said, unfortunately one shot short.

THE MODERATOR: Then can you both just speak to how this week has -- what it has shown about with your games too?

KELLY TAN: Yeah, again, I think we both played great. We have good synergy on the course together. If I'm down, she picked me up, or if she was down, I picked her up every day.

It's been overall a really fun week. Right now it sucks. I think when I wake up tomorrow morning, I will cherish the moments that we've been through the last few days, and I can only choose to take on the positives.

MATILDA CASTREN: I think we can both be really happy how we played under the pressure. Obviously we were a few shots back this morning, and we kind of got those back during the round.

There's a lot of pressure playing for a win, so we performed. Both of us hit some really great shots and hit some good putts. I think both of us can be really proud of how we handled the pressure and take that going forward and take it as a learning experience.

THE MODERATOR: There was a lot of smiles between the two of you today on TV coverage. Can you just speak to what this is for your relationship as friends and how the memories you've made this week together?

KELLY TAN: Yeah. I don't think I can find a better partner. Being able to play this event with my best friend is more than I can ask for.

I think those smiles just correlate to our friendship, the time we have out there having fun, through the good shots and the bad shots.

Yeah, it was great.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, we had a lot of fun out there. None of those smiles were fake. They were all real. We had a lot of fun.

We were just really comfortable. I think I said that a few times already. But, yeah, just so great playing with her. I mean, I always look forward to this event and doing so well. Hopefully we're at the top next year.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, ladies.