U.S. MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 25, 2024

Connor Doyal

Kinloch Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Tough match.

CONNOR DOYAL: It was.

Q. You gave that guy, the runner-up, all he could handle, and you had him pretty much in good position there at 18 with that pitch.

CONNOR DOYAL: Yeah, I spotted him a few early. Then we kind of battled back and forth and finally got it even with three to go. He made a helluva birdie on 16.

Q. How far?

CONNOR DOYAL: Made about a 15-footer. The back edge is like a peninsula. That's really the closest you can get without taking on some serious trouble.

17, 18, tried to give it all I could and really just kind of came up one shot short.

Q. The pitch you had, it looked like you probably didn't hit it the way you wanted to. It sounded a little clunky. Was it what you wanted to do?

CONNOR DOYAL: I was up there. You see all these people hanging around. You get a little nervous.

Q. I understand.

CONNOR DOYAL: You hit those shots all the time. I had a little of a downslope lie, hitting to a green that's above me. Plus there's so much moisture out here, so it kind of skips.

I didn't quite get it perfect, but I still kind of gave myself a chance at it. Just couldn't convert.

Q. You came out of the playoff to get to the quarterfinals, pretty good run. How would you sum up your week here? Now you're also exempt for next year.

CONNOR DOYAL: It was a long week. Lots of days waking up at 5:30, lots of stress of just hoping to even be able to even make it to match play.

Then once I got in match play, I was kind of like I'm just playing with house money right now, so let's make a run. Let's make some noise. The game felt good all week. It was really fun playing against Evan today.

Q. Did you play at Auburn?

CONNOR DOYAL: I did not.

Q. Just went to school there?

CONNOR DOYAL: Just went to school there.

Q. Industrial engineering major? Are you using that degree at all? I see you're caddying.

CONNOR DOYAL: I know Pops isn't too thrilled I'm using my industrial engineering degree just to be a caddie.

Moved to Atlanta out of school, had a job there for a little bit over a year. I just had the golf bug. I just wasn't playing enough golf, so I moved somewhere where I could play a lot of golf. Really the past year and a half, I've been doing whatever I can to play a lot of golf.

Q. And you've won some stuff. City Amateur?

CONNOR DOYAL: Yes, and I won the state match play as well.

Q. Obviously you have some game to get to the quarterfinals of this championship, your first USGA event. Pretty good week.

CONNOR DOYAL: It is, but whenever everything is manicured so perfect, it does make it easier to play well. Kinloch is just an unbelievable experience all the way around.