U.S. GIRLS' JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

July 18, 2024

Avani Prashanth

El Caballero Country Club

Press Conference

Q. Is this the first USGA event you've played?

AVANI PRASHANTH: Yes.

Q. How has the experience been so far?

AVANI PRASHANTH: It's been great. It's been how everyone usually describes it about how good of a job they do. I'm really glad to be here and absolutely enjoyed it so far.

Q. What did you know about USGA championships coming in?

AVANI PRASHANTH: What or when?

Q. What did you know about.

AVANI PRASHANTH: So everyone said it's wonderfully organized, which obviously it is. USGA creates a great atmosphere for the players, which it definitely has.

So it's lived up to everything and more that people said.

Q. And so just going into your match play, 19 holes in your first match; 1-up in in your second match; this time 3&2. Has it felt like you've been under pressure? What's the experience been like?

AVANI PRASHANTH: In the first two matches, yes, because I was dropping quite a few shots on unnecessary holes, and especially after being 2-down with four to go, my heart rate was like 165 after seeing that.

But managed it well.

And then even the first match this morning I was one down with one to play. Clutched up and made the birdie on the last, so, yeah. It's been good.

Q. Is there anything that you do specifically when you're in a moment like that to keep yourself...

AVANI PRASHANTH: So I try and take a couple deep breaths and distract myself in the best way possible, which is either to stare at my yardage book while I think of something else, or I'll just talk to my caddie, Nico, who has been really helpful distracting me from these things all week.

Q. Is your caddie local or your main caddie?

AVANI PRASHANTH: No, he's local.

Q. And what's your experience in match play in general? Have you played in a match play event before?

AVANI PRASHANTH: I played the R&A Girls in 2022, and then there are match play events held back home. So I'm a two-time national champ as well. I love playing match play. Back home when I'm not playing a tournament I'm busy playing match play rounds in the with the guys on the Asian Tour.

So there is a good competition. We put money on it, so makes it very fun.

Q. What's it like playing with the guys?

AVANI PRASHANTH: It's a lot more competitive than any other round that I've played back home. I think it's really set me up to deal with pressure a lot better, because obviously the girls here this week are great.

So thanks to them I've been able to deal with the pressure of having -- being 2-down with four to play, et cetera, yeah.

Q. And are you looking at any schools here in the United States?

AVANI PRASHANTH: No. My plan is to turn pro. I'll probably be playing the LPGA Q-School this August.

Q. Nice.

AVANI PRASHANTH: Yeah.

Q. What were your expectations coming into the week I guess being your first USGA event.

AVANI PRASHANTH: Obviously the goal is to win, but expectation-wise I just wanted to execute my plan that I've set out. So just not do anything risky and do anything extra that could bring in a bogey.

So main plan was to keep bogeys out of play, which I've done decently, but obviously it can get better.

So, yeah.

Q. And lastly here, what's your confidence levels going into tomorrow and maybe how does that compare to coming into the event?

AVANI PRASHANTH: So I'm playing Gianna tomorrow so that's going to be a fun match. We know each other quite well. That will definitely be a testing of who is actually better.

That will be good. I'm excited. We both have to put our best foot forward.

Q. Would you say you feel more confident now than you did coming into the week? Same level?

AVANI PRASHANTH: I think just a little more confident because now the putter is hot and so it's been working well. Hopefully just shows up tomorrow as well.

Q. What's been the strongest part your game so far this week?

AVANI PRASHANTH: I think my driver. I've not missed more than maybe four fairways in the last six rounds.

Q. Is that typically the strongest part of your game?

AVANI PRASHANTH: Yeah.

Q. And thoughts on the course overall?

AVANI PRASHANTH: I think the greens are very difficult to read and obviously you cannot miss the greens. That's just what makes it very difficult. Otherwise it's a great course.

I absolutely have enjoyed my time here so hopefully I think make it Saturday.

Q. What other events are you looking to play it summer?

AVANI PRASHANTH: Junior PGA at Congressional next week and U.S. Am and LPGA Q-School.

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