U.S. WOMEN'S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 11, 2024

Hana Ryskova

Brae Burn Country Club

Quote Quotes

Q. How are you feeling right now?

HANA RYSKOVA: Just very grateful. So happy. So tired. And excited, very excited.

Q. Two very different matches. You kind of rolled in the morning and then the afternoon match was very close the last -- on the back nine there and then going extra holes. Describe both of them.

HANA RYSKOVA: The match in the morning was great. I was going into it that I have to score because I know that if I score here, I can win the holes. I had a great opponent. It was really fun.

The afternoon one, I was leading, and then I was playing good golf, and she was making great putts. She was playing really well.

I think they were very different. I was very confident in the morning but very calm, and the afternoon round was the round I play golf for. That was everything. And I love Playoffs, so it was great. I didn't have to do it three times, but it was great.

Q. What was the best part of your game in this afternoon match would you say?

HANA RYSKOVA: Just calm head, patience. On 17 I knew that -- on 16, she made a birdie. I knew she was going to make a birdie, and I was like, either I have to make it to win the hole or I'm not going to tie with par. Then on 17 I had a great read but the speed was horrible on the putt. Then my second putt was longer than the first one, but I made it.

Then every shot I was like, I didn't have to be here. 17 could have been done, so for me it's just like, be patient, be comfortable, be confident, Ethan's dad jokes and talking about two puppies at home. Being patient, being calm.

Q. How is it having Ethan here on the bag?

HANA RYSKOVA: It's great. It's a dream come true. We started dating almost three years ago and I played college golf the whole time, and he loves to play. For him being here and caddying for me, we are here mainly just for the memories, and they're just getting better and better every day.

Q. You're playing in your first -- you're one of the youngest in the field, playing in your first women's Mid-Am and now you're playing for a final. Sum up the experience.

HANA RYSKOVA: It's great. I don't know if every single USGA tournament is held as well, but being here, it's just a great experience. I'm meeting great people every single day. For me to be in front of people who just stole my heart last week and play tomorrow for the trophy is great. It's really fun, and I'm very excited.

Q. Do you know Lindsay at all? She's from Louisville.

HANA RYSKOVA: I met her I think the second day of the stroke play. We just said, oh, did you play from Louisville, she's like, I'm from Louisville, and I'm pretty sure my coach knows her because she's from Louisville. I just said a couple times, let's go, Lindsay, because let's go Louisville; we're tight. But I don't know her well. I know of her. I met her a couple times, or once.