AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 3, 2024

Ashley Menne

Quick Quotes

Q. Started on 1, right?

ASHLEY MENNE: I did. Yeah.

Q. Got off to a hot start, 4-under through 9.

ASHLEY MENNE: I did.

Q. What was working well for you?

ASHLEY MENNE: I was just able to capitalize on like less wind I would say on the front nine. Just hit them close and make some putts.

Q. And back nine just hold on?

ASHLEY MENNE: Yeah, just hold on. For dear life. The winds started getting a little gusty coming down the stretch the last couple holes were quite challenging already.

So yeah, just hold on.

Q. Is this the best you've felt in early after this tournament before?

ASHLEY MENNE: I would say yes, this is the best I've felt.

Q. Why?

ASHLEY MENNE: I feel like I just -- I don't know. I just played like three events back-to-back and kind of -- I'm in a groove a little bit. I feel more comfortable because I've been here a couple years now and so I kind of know what to expect a little bit more.

And I would also say the conditions today, like the greens made it more playable I would say for me.

Q. You participated in the first drive, chip, and putt?

ASHLEY MENNE: I did, yeah.

Q. Can you just describe what you remember about that first time step be onto the property?

ASHLEY MENNE: I remember being in awe and definitely really nervous, because that was my first time ever playing like anything that big and on TV.

So definitely memorable for sure.

Q. What was it like when you went home? Did you have a lot of friends that watched? What did they say?

ASHLEY MENNE: You know I definitely had a lot of friends that watched. They cheered me on. But also I made a lot of friends at the tournament.

I remember it being so much fun. Like at the hotel we had all these arcade games and like we would all be drinking cokes and stuff and just hanging out.

Q. Who was the best friend you've met?

ASHLEY MENNE: Hard to say exactly, but I would say I met like all the college players that I play with still today. Like Christine Wang. I think -- I can't remember off the top of my head. I'm sorry.

Q. She's kind of a social butterfly.

ASHLEY MENNE: Yeah, she really is.

Q. Do you remember your reaction to the announcement of that tournament that you would have a chance to play?

ASHLEY MENNE: Like I wanted to play in this event because it's Augusta and it's super cool, and I had a bunch of teammates who actually played in this event the first year.

I didn't qualify that first -- those first couple years.

So just being able to be here has been special.

Q. You kind of have an interesting team makeup right now back in Arizona. Kind of the elder statesman. A lot of young players. How do you feel like that's helped you grow this year?

ASHLEY MENNE: I've definitely been the mom of the team in general. I never thought it would come to like this point. I don't know. Just being the most seasoned and being the one to almost guide everyone in a sense.

So I love the team and they're so much fun. They keep me young I would say.

Q. What are your responsibilities as the team mom?

ASHLEY MENNE: You know, sometimes it's like herding cats but I love them. Don't get me wrong. It's hard to get their attention. We're all having side conversations about other things and laughing and goggling.

I'm definitely the one that is like, hey, guys, let's go do this. Coach is calling us over here. And I'm like, I don't know, giving them advice on how the golf course is going to be like, if they've never played it before or like what to expect from different events and whatnot.

Q. Does that take time away from what you got to do individually or do you think it helps that you are not spending too much time on your own?

ASHLEY MENNE: I don't think it takes away any time at all. I feel like this is what college golf is all about, and I'm going to have my moment of being by myself after college.

So I'm just trying to soak it all in as much as I can.

Q. And you Missy went to the same high school, right?

ASHLEY MENNE: Yes, we both did.

Q. Would you say you're both similar people in a way?

ASHLEY MENNE: In a sense, yeah. She's taught me a lot going to ASU. Definitely different generations from the high school. We both actually had the same head coach for golf, but she's like changed a lot over the years as well.

So I would say I relate to her a lot in that sense of being from that school and being an alum and having loyalty.

Q. What's the biggest thing she's taught you in these four years, or I guess five years, right?

ASHLEY MENNE: Four years. Yeah, only four years. I would say, you know, stay in the moment ask not get too ahead of myself.

Sometimes I feel like I just get really far ahead and like don't really focus on what's going on in front of me. Just be more like solution based.

Q. Have you gotten any cool gifts this week?

ASHLEY MENNE: Yes. I kind of take it like day by day, like hour by hour. I need to go look at the schedule. Try not to look too far ahead here.

Q. Talk about having your brother on the bag this week, what he brings to the table.

ASHLEY MENNE: My brother has been amazing. He's 23 years old and I would say he's like my best friend. To have him on the bag has been great because he's really smart as well. He's great at math. He's a flight engineer.

He definitely is cracking jokes out there all the time with me, so it's nice to have someone like I know and makes me laugh and it's comforting.

I'm just having a great time.

Q. I know that you grew up being a member of LPGA-USGA Girls' Golf Phoenix chapter. One of the things Girls' gold prides itself in is little girls, big dreams. Talk about some of the dreams that you had when you were younger and how that compares to your dreams now?

ASHLEY MENNE: I would definitely say my dream was to play college golf growing up. That was my goal from the start. Starting off in junior golf and like playing all these tournaments, junior events, meeting people, and I would say now my goal is definitely professional golf.

I see it coming in it the next year, so be going to Q-School after I graduate here.

Q. Can you share some of the ways at least for you you've been able to stay on this journey and that path or any advice you have for girls that also have those dreams?

ASHLEY MENNE: I would say definitely hard work. I think that's self-explanatory. Having fun with it. I think that's the most important thing.

A lot of girls tend to almost stress out about golf and not have fun, so I think it's healthy for the longevity of the sport.

Q. I know the Phoenix chapter led by Cori prioritizes fun. Can you reflect on some of the memories you had being part of that chapter?

ASHLEY MENNE: I remember always doing the glow putt or glow golf at night. Loved that event. It was during Halloween and we would dress up in costumes and pumpkin carve and go play six holes or significant like that in the dark.

I always loved that event. And, yeah, just spending time with friends and that's how you get kids into the game. That's what kept me in the game for sure.