BUICK LPGA SHANGHAI

October 14, 2023

Mi Hyang Lee

Qizhong Garden Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Mi Hyang Lee, excellent round, 5-under par, 68.

MI HYANG LEE: Thank you.

Q. Obviously a little disappointing with that bogey on 17. We saw a lot of your play today, and you look pretty comfortable out there.

MI HYANG LEE: Yes it was. I mean, actually I had a really good luck in the front nine so it was five birdie. Was amazing in this golf course condition as well.

And then, yeah, of course 17 was like really stupid layup to second shot. Yeah, but I really glad to make the putt the last hole as well, so I'm really look forward to play tomorrow.

Q. You mentioned front nine. You played alongside Minjee Lee and Xiyu Lin, and you were a cumulative 13-under oar. How much did that help your momentum feeding off everyone playing so well?

MI HYANG LEE: Yes, of course that is like a lot motivate to me, and then we made a lot of birdie each other. And then Janet is from here so we had a lot of like really big crowd as well, so it get me a lot confidence as well. And then some Koreans coming to watch me and they just speak the Korean to me, was like more relax to me as well.

Yeah, everything was really fun today.

Q. Five Top 20s this season; you were tied for fifth just a few weeks ago at the Kroger Queen City Championship. I am assuming you took a lot of confidence coming in here.

MI HYANG LEE: Yes, actually just I and had a really struggling last two years, so I really glad to play this China event this year as well.

But, yes, just I want to keep my play tomorrow and then hopefully a lot of lucks come to me as well.

Q. All right, an incredible third day here. You really took advantage of the conditions here on moving day. What was going so well on the course for you today?

MI HYANG LEE: So I had a really good like shot condition last two days but my putt was really struggling, really frustrated, so I just focused like on my like 20 foot putts like practiced a lot yesterday, and it was worked.

I'm really thankful to my dad. I was talk to my dad. I was a little mad to him, like it didn't go in. I hit solid but didn't go in.

He just give me some really good tip, simple tip, and yeah, it was worked, yeah.

Q. This front nine, what birdie really stuck out to you the most that really got this round clicking for you?

MI HYANG LEE: So it was good start. I made almost 30-foot putt on first hole, and I think most difficult hole of this golf course, so it was good start.

And then second hole was great tee shot and then I make the -- it's not easy birdie putt, I made it, so it was good momentum as well.

And then, yeah, Minjee and Janet, I mean, they play so good in the front nine so that motivate me, okay, like I should make lot birdie as well. Yeah, it was great to playing with them, uh-huh.

Q. We were able to see especially on that last hole, on 18, some of the par saves that you had --

MI HYANG LEE: Yeah, yeah.

Q. -- were really impressive to really keep this round the way it was. To see what you've been able to work on to get your name towards the top of the leaderboard, what did it mean to you to walk off and see your name up there?

MI HYANG LEE: Actually I was really mad I made bogey on 17, so my tee shot was go to the right and was unlucky. My like 3-wood is on my line so I tried a low shot, so it was a great shot though, but I really wanted to make the birdie.

I think a little too aggressive maybe. Then like right after the putt, oh, my goodness this is crazy that's coming. So I'm trying to make the par for tomorrow. Just like finish bogey-bogey, you know, that's feel so bad, so really glad to make the par there.

Q. You talked a little bit about it earlier, but your seasons for the last two seasons, it's kind of felt like a struggle for you.

MI HYANG LEE: Uh-huh.

Q. The Mi Hyang at the beginning of this season has worked towards this moment here?

MI HYANG LEE: Uh-huh, I know.

Q. How relieving does it feel to see all will work come together to get to this moment?

MI HYANG LEE: Now is everything thankful. I really thankful we can come here and glad to play next week for the Asian swing as well. Yeah, I just start Monday qualifying and then I got reshuffle and then great three tournaments, like Kroger as well.

I was really strict on myself, but now it's trying to more relax and then I'm like keep think like positive as well. Yeah, I think that is lot helped. Maybe (indiscernible) little bit.

Q. How much did that T5 finish at Kroger solidify the confidence in your game?

MI HYANG LEE: Even I didn't think about the result, but I just tried to no bogey the last round and then I make five birdie.

So right after the 18 my caddie told me, oh, you had a T5. Oh, my goodness, like I made Top 10. That give me a lot confidence for sure, then that momentum is made Asian swing as well. So, yes, I really thank the Kroger.

Q. What will you draw on tomorrow in this final day as you look to win for the first time in a couple of seasons?

MI HYANG LEE: Just one more day is left, but I had a cough and I think I had a little cold last night. Was little dry my room. So I want to take some good rest and then hopefully feel better tomorrow.

And then I don't know who will play with me tomorrow, but hopefully we both play good and then make a lot of birdie for both.