U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 20, 2023

Neal Shipley

Cherry Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Talk about the play this morning. Both guys shot 5-under. Were you saying, what do I got to do to win here?

NEAL SHIPLEY: Yeah, you shoot 5-under and you would think you'd be at least 1- or 2-up. Nick played great, and he just made a lot of putts on me this afternoon. You know, that's what it takes to win these things. He has what it takes, obviously, and I just didn't really play my best today. It is what it is.

Q. You played pretty well, but when you walk off the 18th hole this morning, you had to say, man, I can win this thing.

NEAL SHIPLEY: Yeah, I definitely felt like I could win. I hung in there today all day and a few bad shots, a few bad putts and Nick was right there to take those opportunities.

Q. Seemed like he couldn't miss, especially in the five, six foot range.

NEAL SHIPLEY: Yeah, he was really tidy instead of six, ten feet and made a few longer putts, too, so all hots off to him there.

Q. Does that put a lot of pressure on you when you see your opponent making all those five- and six-footers.

NEAL SHIPLEY: For sure. You know you're going to have to hit it tight and you're going to have to make a lot of putts, and it is what it is.

Q. What about your week, though. Have you ever dreamed of something like this?

NEAL SHIPLEY: It's pretty crazy. It's the stuff of dreams to be doing what you're doing, to do what I'm doing this week. Just glad I took time to soak it in every day and really enjoy it. This is likely my last Amateur, and just a really cool week and something I didn't initially think I'd have the opportunity to do.

Q. You probably didn't have time to think about what you get by getting to the final, but next year it's U.S. Open, Masters possibly -- well, they have to invite you, obviously, but what's that mean to you?

NEAL SHIPLEY: Oh, gosh. I mean, playing the Masters has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I mean, you wake up early in the morning and start watching the coverage. When I was in high school I'd be in class watching coverage on my computer, not doing my schoolwork on Thursday and Friday. I think it's cool that I'll be out there, and excited to have a bunch of people with me.

Q. You've seen the U.S. Open probably played at Oakmont before. What's it going to be like to be in that field now?

NEAL SHIPLEY: That's crazy. One of the best fields in golf. I think it'll be just a week to enjoy and cherish. It's not every day you get to play a national championship with professionals, so I think that's going to be a really cool experience.

Q. We've talked about this before, but what do you think turned the switch this year that's created your great play this summer?

NEAL SHIPLEY: Just being around good teammates and good coaches and being able to see what they do so great and all that. That's been really good.

Q. You became a fan favorite this weekend. Hitting that approach shot on 13 back there, what was it like to just kind of hear all the support from people for you?

NEAL SHIPLEY: It was so cool. I never thought that that would happen ever. It's just cool, and it's going to be a special place because of that, I think.

Q. You played really well today; what's it like in your mentality when you're playing as well as you are and you're still even or 1-down? What's that like?

NEAL SHIPLEY: You just try and keep digging and keep hitting golf shots. I just got out-dueled today. That's kind of what it is.