U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 16, 2023

Conner Jones

Cherry Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. What's it like to win on your birthday, and has it ever happened to you before?

CONNER JONES: I think I won a high school tournament on my birthday one time. But I don't get the opportunity to play a really cool event like this on your birthday very often, so it's really cool.

Q. When you wake up, do you feel different on a birthday when you're getting ready for a match?

CONNER JONES: My sister actually texted me this morning and she said happy birthday, and I was so focused on the tournament, I forgot it was my birthday this morning.

Q. Let's talk about this match. Based on the scoring, it looks like you took control right after the turn.

CONNER JONES: Yeah. I wasn't making a ton of birdies, just a lot of pars, and I lost 9 with a bogey. Then I won 10 with a par, won 11 and 12 with birdies.

Q. How did you make those birdies on 11 and 12?

CONNER JONES: 11 I hit the green in two and two-putted, and 12 I made a long putt from maybe 50 right from the right side of the green.

Q. That's a nice birthday present.

CONNER JONES: Yeah.

Q. Was the first putt on 1, was that --

CONNER JONES: It was kind of an awkward lie. It was kind of close to the rough behind -- kind of affected my back stroke a little bit, and obviously it wasn't my best effort, but my stroke was a little hindered by the rough behind it.

Q. How special is it to compete in this tournament being from here?

CONNER JONES: Yeah, it's really cool. It's fun to have a bunch of people out here watching me that I know and supporting me and staying in my own bed, so it's great.

Q. Now you're into the round of 32. Next opponent is going to be very formidable. I don't know how much you look down the road. What are you looking forward to and what are your thoughts?

CONNER JONES: Yeah, I haven't really looked at the bracket, either. I don't know who I'm going to play, but I know whoever it is they're going to be a really good player. I'm going to have to play some good golf if I want to keep going.

Q. With the situation with not having a caddie, do you think at this point given that you've done well that you'll just keep going carrying your own bag?

CONNER JONES: Probably not. Probably tomorrow I'll have a caddie for the 36 holes.

Q. Were there any pivotal points today?

CONNER JONES: I think on 11, that was kind of a -- the momentum was already kind of going in my favor, and that kind of, I think, hurt him a little bit, and his hopes of coming back were hurt a little bit after he went 3-down at 11.