U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 17, 2023

Jackson Koivun

Cherry Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. You had quite a day.

JACKSON KOIVUN: Yeah.

Q. Take out the stroke play medalist and win here in extra holes.

JACKSON KOIVUN: Right.

Q. What's it feel like right now?

JACKSON KOIVUN: Kind of a range of emotions right now. Matthew was a really good competitor this afternoon. I felt like I didn't really have the momentum all of the back nine until about 18. He hit a really good shot in there, kind of got lucky it bounced over and I was able to make par and take it to extra holes.

Yeah, it's crazy. It's been a wild ride, and hopefully I can continue it tomorrow.

Q. Tell me what you're thinking when he birdies 17 and it's do or die now on 18. What's your mindset there?

JACKSON KOIVUN: My main mindset is just give myself a putt at birdie. He hit a really good shot in there on 17, and I made a 30-foot par putt, which was a little bit of momentum, maybe just enough. But still lost the hole. Then 18 I just told myself if I can get myself in the fairway with a short iron in, I will have a chance.

After I saw where he hit his approach shot, I kind of aimed middle of the green and left myself in a somewhat decent spot to capitalize.

Q. How is it after a big win this morning, you play 36 probably quite a bit, but in this situation to beat the medalist, and then you've got to come back and play again and you've got to keep the momentum going. What was the break like, and how were you feeling about coming back out?

JACKSON KOIVUN: It was fine. I mean, I beat Blades pretty early, so I had a decent time gap. I was able to rest, get some food, and then kind of try to restart. It's a new match, new person, new round, try to get through my whole routine at the beginning of the second round.

That was kind of my mindset going in.

Q. Being a college golfer you're no stranger to 36-hole days, but what is it about the mentality and the mental battle of match play, especially 3-up after eight holes and having to deal with him clawing back in?

JACKSON KOIVUN: You've just got to keep fighting. If he's going to beat me with birdies on tough holes, then so be it. I've just got to keep making good swings and hitting good shots that I'm happy with, and eventually I hope to come out on top, and today I was able to.

Q. What were the expectations coming into this tournament as far as what you thought you could do relative to how you were playing, where you were mentally?

JACKSON KOIVUN: I've had a pretty mediocre summer. I've been working really hard on making a couple swing changes, and they're starting to pay off a little bit here.

I try not to go into too many tournaments with expectations. My main goal is to make the cut, match it to match play, and anything can happen in match play. Just go as far as you can, keep grinding, keep clawing away and trying to do the best you can.

Q. How much match play had you played before this tournament?

JACKSON KOIVUN: I actually am pretty inexperienced in match play. I've played a couple match play tournaments here or there. I only played one U.S. Junior two years ago and lost in my first round. I don't have a bunch of match play experience. I just tried to go into this week just trusting all the work I've put in and hoping it pays off.

Q. In your short career, where does making the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur rank?

JACKSON KOIVUN: It's way up there. It's such an honor. I'm excited to get after it tomorrow.

Q. Do you know much about your opponent, Nick Dunlap?

JACKSON KOIVUN: I know he's a really good match play player, and he's going to put up a really good fight, and just hope we can put on a show and see what happens.