HONDA LPGA THAILAND

February 24, 2024

Albane Valenzuela

Siam Country Club Pattaya, Old Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Overall, what were you taking away from this day three?

ALBANE VALENZUELA: Definitely not yesterday. I mean, my driver was fantastic all day. You know, two three-putts which was kind of a bummer and missed a few opportunities for up and down, but I kept fighting.

I was like, well, my speed is up and I am just going to accept it and I am just going to accept it and put a good roll on the next hole. I'm just glad I finished birdie, birdie. We said with my dad we might have to dig a little bit deeper, and with the heat it definitely takes I think a little bit of focus to just regroup and be back in the present.

I think I did a good job today.

Q. I think I saw a nice fist bump on the eagle. Walk me through what that meant for your round.

ALBANE VALENZUELA: Yeah, I hit a great shot in there. I had a 6-iron and I just flew it all the way back which was unexpected. I put a really good roll on it and just really fun to have eagle. You know, I have two so far in this tournament, so it's really -- gave me a little bit of momentum I think internally. Then I had two bogeys which was a little bit of a bummer. Kind of erased it. I was glad to see a longer putt two in.

Q. After those bogeys what did you say to reset going into the back nine?

ALBANE VALENZUELA: You know, just stay present. I mean, I definitely felt like a little bit of fatigue and just the heat really getting to me. I just tried to really hydrate well and eat a little bit more.

I think I just got a little bit more energy back on the -- after. But it was tough. I had a hard time adjusting to the speeds. I think it was a little bit more inconsistent from hole to hole today.

Yeah, just happy I got to finish strong at the end. I think that just tells me I'm a competitor.

Q. I was about to ask, the resilience level today, how are you feeling on that? Being able to talk to your dad and say, we got to dig deep here. What was the motivation for the last couple holes, especially with the par-5s?

ALBANE VALENZUELA: Yeah, you want to be in contention, and I think I just told myself, listen, this is what you're here for. Just embrace it. I was a little bit -- I was a little nervous. No, just embrace it. It's really fun. I think I really trust my game. I really trust my driver. I've loving hitting drives again, so it's a blast.

I just said, let's go for it, and hit a great 3-wood on 18 and had really an easy chip there. So just glad I got play aggressive all day.

Q. I think what's interesting is when we talked to you yesterday, you said the last time I was here in 2022 I was a completely different player, and here I am now. When you look at yourself and the way you play, how do you take from kind of not thinking about that last time going into the final round tomorrow?

ALBANE VALENZUELA: I think my long game is at a totally different place. You know, it's funny, my dad kept asking me, how did you play this one? Dad, it was probably so F-ing bad, you know. It's like, I was probably in the forest somewhere.

I mean, I used to have this big duck hook and just absolutely hated my driver, and now it's like my best friend in the bag. Just feel really good and playing left to right. I think I've become a really solid driver the ball and my long game a really solid.

I think I've really grinded to get to that place and it's now in the memory bank. I hit really solid drives. Every course feels easier when you hit fairways. Definitely a different feeling.

Q. When you find yourself in contention like now, what experiences do you remember from the professional game or amateur game that you can lean on to really focus in on getting up the leaderboard?

ALBANE VALENZUELA: Yeah, I mean, I've had some good Top 10s on this tour. Definitely was in contention last year in Chevron with at Top 5. I just know my game is there. I play with all the girls and I feel like I belong on this tour.

It's just a matter of telling myself that and reminding myself that I'm good enough to be here and just enjoying it. I think it's really more about enjoying the game of golf more so than anything else.

I think I've been very outcome oriented in the past and now I'm trying to become a more process oriented player. If there is negative thoughts, just believe in yourself. Okay, it's fine, it happens, just stay in the present.