U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 9, 2024

Maria Jose Marin

Southern Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. You are a semifinalist at the U.S. Women's Amateur. How does that sound?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I mean, after what happened yesterday, the bunker shot and today with what happened, I still can't believe it.

I came here with an objective and it was to make the cut and to have a good chance into match play. As I've said a million times and I think I'm going to say it until the day I die, I never thought I was going to be a medalist and not even in the semifinals.

But I'm super, super happy and super proud of myself and my dad, too.

Q. How did your expectations change when you won medalist? Did that open your eyes to think you might be able to do something special this week?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I think so, yes, because scores were not low at all. I think just eight people were under par, and this course demands everything out of you. You have to be really smart and I think that's like a caddie job, too. You have to have a person that knows and you knows your game, that makes like smart decisions, too.

Q. Did you win a professional tournament back in Colombia before you came out here recently?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: No, it wasn't a professional tournament. It was The Open of my country, the Colombian Open.

Q. By 18 shots I think you won.

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yes.

Q. And you weren't confident coming in after doing something like that?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Well, the courses in Colombia are way different than this. I've never seen something like this with so much elevation and green speeds and just breaks; they're crazy. Like you don't see this every day.

So that's why I say that. But I think I've been playing the course a lot and I already know how to kind of play it, yes.

Q. I was talking to Mike and Shauna earlier; I've been to Blessings a few times so I've seen what kind of test and challenge that can be. How does what get you ready for a course that kind of demands so much like this one does?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I think in the university we have a great golf course that, as you say, prepares you forever challenge that you have out in the States. Because you see hundred types of different courses and Blessings kind of has everything. Even though it's not bermuda or, I don't know, I don't know the type of grass of Blessings, but it's not bermuda like this.

It has kind of like the same shots; green are not as hilly as this, but kind of has good speed. I've been preparing myself and I couldn't be more grateful with Shauna and Mike for the opportunity they gave me.

Q. How special is it to have your dad out here? You can see how close you guys on the course with how active he is with everything you guys do, and seeing you run ahead together. What's it been like to share that experience with him this week so far?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: It's been amazing. I mean, this is my first U.S. Am and the first time that my dad is on the bag in a U.S. Am also. It's just amazing that he's there with me, cheering me on. Of course if I make a bad shot he's not going to be happy, but it's normal.

I'm just really grateful that he's with me. He knows me, and, well, I love him.

Q. When you've played as well as you have this week so far, what is there that you need to work on or that you want to work on to tighten up to make sure you can get to the final on Sunday?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I think I just have to get through 1, because 1 has been a tough challenge for me. I think I just made one par all week, so I think to start 1 with a good score gives me the confidence to go for it. Of course not going for all the pins because they're tough.

Just giving me the confidence that you can do really good.

Q. So you didn't leave this last match until you won it at the end.

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Exactly.

Q. What were you able to do so well that you were able to hang in there with Anna? That was a match that could have been a semifinal or final between you two.

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I think just hanging in there. I've played with Anna a couple of times over the spring season and even in post-season, so I kind of know her game, too.

We play pretty similar, so I knew I had to play really good. She putts really good. So just hang in there, do pars, because par or a tie even will win a hole, and birdies of course give you the chance.

Q. What was going into the discussion about the good-good that you guys had out there early in the playoff? I saw the rules official came in and talked to you guys. What was that discussion like?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yeah, I was not sure if in a playoff you're allowed to do good and good or like even concede a putt, so I was like, what, two feet for par? She had two feet for par. I was okay with it. I was like, if you want, and she was like, okay, that's good for me. (Laughter.)

So, yeah.

Q. What are you most excited for going into the weekend?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I'm really excited that I get to play another day here because of course it's a championship course and I really like it. Even though it's a hard challenge I really enjoyed it.

And then my dad gets to caddie for me another day and I get to see him another day before I go to college. Yeah, just grateful that I'm in the semifinal.