EPSON TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

October 7, 2023

Michelle Zhang

LPGA International, Jones Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Another day; another great round from Michelle Zhang. Tell me about your day out there. What was working so well yet again today?

MICHELLE ZHANG: Thank you, first of all. It was definitely -- I mean, the course is just really gettable for everyone out here. I was checking the leaderboard throughout the round and I was like 1-under through 9. Through like 8 I was like, oh, my gosh, everyone is like 16-under, 17-under.

So I was like I knew I had to like do something on the back nine. Just really my putting was definitely really great today. And then missed a short one out there on 18. It is okay. I just made a long putt.

But overall, I'm just really happy to be where I'm at and then having a chance tomorrow.

Q. I don't want to talk about your youth too much, but being able to understand how to attack at this age, where did you learn that? That's a pretty good skill to have when you're 18.

MICHELLE ZHANG: Thank you. Definitely say like all the junior golf and then amateur golf and a bit of college golf definitely helped prepare me out here. Just like knowing what I'm able to do and having past experience of like having a chance of winning and just keeping myself in contention is kind of the goal.

Q. What's it been like being out here? This is your rookie this year, correct?

MICHELLE ZHANG: Yes.

Q. What's it been like being a rookie on the Epson Tour and really hanging with these girls? You're playing some dang good golf right now.

MICHELLE ZHANG: Thank you. It's definitely tough. Playing college golf I won conference shooting 15-under in three days, and like I'm 18-under today and there is like there is a bunch of people right behind me.

It's kind of just like trying to keep myself out there and then knowing everyone is a great golfer, like they're not going to make mistakes, so I can't make mistakes either is kind of the goal.

Q. How have you been able to see the birdies out there? To go low one day, but to keep that up, how have you kept the birdiefest going?

MICHELLE ZHANG: It's being patient out there. I had a bit of a slow start. I birdied my first -- like my third hole and then just couldn't really putt; didn't give myself really good position.

Seeing Minji definitely pushed me, her making all those birdie putts, and I'm like I need to make some, too. Just being patient out there and knowing there is going to be more birdie opportunities for me as well.

Q. Again, I don't want to talk about your youth, but when you're this young do you think not having any scar tissue maybe is a perk? I feel like a lot of girls are going to protect. I am just going to do what I've been doing. You're like, girl, I'm going to attack. I am going at every pin I can go at and make as many putts as I can make.

MICHELLE ZHANG: Yeah, definitely. Like something I like to say is just this is like a fresh -- like fresh -- being in contention, like I haven't had anything like this before. Just knowing this is my first time, not having any record, and like compared to some girls out here like have been trying to get a win for a bit now, for me it's kind of just like if I win, this is amazing. If I don't win, it's still a great week for me.

Q. How much fun are you having out here? You keep smiling when you're talking about your golf and I just love that.

MICHELLE ZHANG: I'm having a lot of fun out here. Just like this is definitely like low record for me, shooting like this low in three days. I'm just really happy to be out here.

Q. What would it mean to get it done tomorrow?

MICHELLE ZHANG: Oh, it would mean so much. I would be so happy. It's my teammate's birthday next week. She was texting me before I started, oh, are you going to be able to make it? I was 47th going into this week and knowing top 35 go to Q-Series. I was like, girl, I'm going to win for you this week and I'll be back for your birthday. That's just mindset just playing my own golf out here.