FIR HILLS SERI PAK CHAMPIONSHIP

March 22, 2024

Rose Zhang

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Rose, at the beginning of the week you said you seemed a little rusty. Said yesterday after Golf Channel that there were still areas. Game didn't seem that rusty today. What were you referring to yesterday and some improvements you think you made today?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, it's been a while since the I've been on a golf course and actually playing competitively. Even in practice, especially back at school, there weren't a lot of opportunity with the weather not being great as well.

So it was just trying to get used to the course, trying to understand where to place my ball, and the course strategy, course management just comes over time as you keep playing.

That was basically what I was referring to just trying to be comfortable. And today it was more so committing to any areas that I needed to hit, and trying to I guess commit to my targets.

I do think there is a lot to work on with my putting, but overall I'm very satisfied from where I left myself.

Hopefully just a little bit more practice will get me off the rust.

Q. And now you've got two rounds of competitive professional play here. How does this course, the setup this week maybe compare to the Therese Hession that you played last year?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, it's a little bit different. I do feel like the golf course is a little bit softer than last year. Last year I remember I couldn't go at any pins just because it was so hard to stop the ball in certain areas.

This year I think it's a little bit more playable. You can attack in certain areas.

But still, I think as the week goes on it's going to get firmer and firmer and pin placements are going to be more difficult for us.

I would say similar, but at the same time, each year a different.

Q. Now going back to today's round, what were some highlights that you found most impressive of your game today?

ROSE ZHANG: Well, I think it's always nice to start off on 10 with a birdie. I think once you get that going, even if you are faltering a little bit the next couple holes, you have something to bounce back on a little bit.

And going into the back nine, I made a really good putt on 11 and that was probably the longest putt that I've had. Or definitely the longest putt I had today.

Q. You're 11th hole or No. 11, you're talking about No. 2?

ROSE ZHANG: Yes, No. 2. Sorry. We played college reverse. Going from there I was able to hit some really solid shots coming in. Birdied two in a row because I left myself really close. That definitely helped me.

Q. Despite as you say feeling some rust getting back into the impressive grind is it nice to feel that confidence come back after a solid day of some of the things you know are coming back to fruition?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, we're slowly getting there. I think being able to come back and really stay in the zone, I think what I really missed about competitive golf is once you're in the zone it feels really good to just commit to everything that you have and put your all out there.

I think that's the beauty of the sport, beauty of professional golf as well. So it is really fun to just come back, able to compete. There is a lot to work on, and I really love just going through the process.

Q. Before I let you go, we know the final papers, we know that finals are in. Did you get the scores back?

ROSE ZHANG: I did. I'm in for one exam. But I got full marks, so...

Given it's a take home exam. But it required a lot of lecture, review, and a lot of the readings.

Q. Have you ever gotten a B at Stanford?

ROSE ZHANG: Yes.

Q. Just curious.

ROSE ZHANG: I mean, yeah, for some difficult classes. But, yeah. I mean, I'm not getting Cs, so that's good.