NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

October 1, 2023

Lilly Thomas

Pinnacle Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, joined by Lilly Thomas. Lilly, 4-under over the course of the week. To do it practically in your backyard, what has this experience been like for you?

LILLY THOMAS: It's been a great experience. I've been given the opportunity by so many people within the community. They vouched for me and really allowed me to play this tournament again, which is a big blessing as I prepare to go professional after this year.

Just walking around seeing the kids, it's really heartfelt, because I was Gaby's standard bearer when I was younger, so that was a full-world experience. I was reminding her of that today. But it was super fun.

Q. That parlays into my next question. You mentioned you want to go pro after this next year. Was there a moment you had with either Gaby or anyone else looking for advice, or what has been the interaction with the players on tour?

LILLY THOMAS: They've been super helpful. I played with a rookie my first two rounds. She gave me really good advice.

Christina Kim, I played with her in a tournament before.

They're so open to giving advice and really helpful, so that's been a blessing as well, just preparing me for the next step.

Q. And I would be remiss if I didn't ask you about the eagle. I believe it was on 14 or 15. What went into that hole?

LILLY THOMAS: Hit a pretty solid drive. Don't normally play that tee when I play out here on my own, but it was fun to get the energy going and hit a big drive.

Gaby was down there with me. We both hit really solid iron shots in. Gaby stuck it to four feet. I stuck it to maybe about ten, twelve feet, I can't remember, maybe nine, and then she stuck it right inside me four feet, as she should, and we both made are putts.

It was a good hole.

Q. Absolutely. I asked you off camera, you have your fiancée on your bag. How is it having -- I don't want to say a rock -- but someone you can lean on and they can tell you, hey, it's all good. It seemed like you've gotten better and better with each round. Did it help with the nerves or excitement just to help you mellow out and play your game?

LILLY THOMAS: For sure. To have someone so special to me on the bag was a great experience. Just calmed me down. He knows what to say. He's watched me play golf for a good amount of time so he knows what to say and when to say it. He did a great job.

Q. Last one for you. How would you take this experience and parlay that into your final year at Tulsa?

LILLY THOMAS: Yeah, it helps me a lot because I get to straight up compare myself to the professionals, so I know where I need to get better. Definitely putting. I can see that already. Putting needs to get a little better, and probably proximity to the hole.

I play Q-School in October coming up so that's are really good things to work on leading into that, yeah.