DOW CHAMPIONSHIP

June 29, 2024

Ally Ewing

Jennifer Kupcho

Midland Country Club

Quick Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Here with Jennifer and Ally after the third round of the Dow Championship. Leaders in the clubhouse right now. What was today like for you guys?

ALLY EWING: I guess I'm going first. It was just really consistent. It was not the easiest. I thought the wind was a bit swirly. It was tough to gauge exactly where it was coming from and gusty.

So we just played really consistent golf; gave each other a lot of good looks. Really happy we got a round of 3-under.

Q. Talk about it too just with it being alternate shot as well, how tough it can be out there at times not hitting every shot every time almost a little bit.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I think you both have to mentally stay in it. I know we both do the numbers in the fairways so we try to stay in it. Even though we're not hitting the shot, kind of envisioning what we would do. I think that really helps.

But I think just trusting each other, trust that she's going to put it in a good place or trust our game that we're going to make a good comeback. It's just kind of just trusting each other.

Q. Is there any conversations during the day -- I mean, you had several pars out there. Any conversations to kind of get yourself riled up a little bit? You had two birdies after the turn.

ALLY EWING: Yeah, not necessarily. We just -- that front nine, I think for us, was -- beside that birdie on, what, 5? It can get tough because you can hit good shots, and a good shot is a 20-footer, and that's just not a high percentage putt.

I mean, we hit good putts out there, burned edges and stuff. It's just a patience game really with alternate shot. Like she was saying, we just lean on each other, trust each other's game. Try to have a good time out there because we are only hitting half the shots.

So stay and engage and also give ourselves those breaks in alternate. It's kind of working out for us.

Q. Coming up, you kind of had your walk-up song going and had a nice birdie on the last with a lot of cheering. What does that give you rolling into tomorrow?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I think it just gives us confidence, especially for me making that last putt. I've been struggling all week, especially with putting. To see one go in and really good to carry into tomorrow.

ALLY EWING: She's a great putter. You're a great putter.

JENNIFER KUPCHO: I understand, but I haven't made much this week.

ALLY EWING: You can't make them all. Maybe tomorrow.

Q. You can make one tomorrow.

ALLY EWING: Exactly. Looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. Can you just talk about how it feels to be going into the final round with the lead? What has it been like working together for the last couple of days and going into tomorrow?

ALLY EWING: It's been good. It's been fun. I think we said at the beginning of the week this tournament is a nice change of pace. We play the same sort of format, four days of stroke play. It's a grind by yourself.

To come to Midland and be able to play alternate shot, best ball format on a fun golf course where you can make a lot of birdies, we feel confident in our games.

Tomorrow going into the last round with the lead, we'll keep the same game plan and stay relaxed and try to have fun out there.

Q. Can one of you talk about the last hole, the 18th hole. Obviously there was that tie at 14-under. What was your mentality going into the final hole? Was there a sense that we need to get a birdie, and how does it feel now that you got that?

JENNIFER KUPCHO: She hit the shot, but I think just going into 18, I didn't really know where we stood. I knew we were near the top. Honestly, I don't think it matters going into tomorrow. One shot lead isn't that much when it's the format of best ball tomorrow.

Like somebody can go out and shoot 11-under. It's just going out and focusing on our own game tomorrow.