NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 27, 2024

Maria Marin

Pinnacle Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, I'm here with Maria Marin after her first round at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Really awesome round to start your debut on the LPGA Tour. Just talk about how today was for you?

MARIA MARIN: It was pretty amazing today. All the round. I mean, to get to 17, birdie 17, that hole is just amazing. And to get to 18 and do a great shot also. And it was not just those two holes. All around I putted pretty solid and I think my shots were -- I stuck to my strategy and that was like the key to my round.

Q. And talk about 17, the loudest hole in golf they call it. I believe you normally call the Hogs there.

MARIA MARIN: Yes.

Q. What was that hole like for you, especially to birdie?

MARIA MARIN: It felt amazing to play my first LPGA here in Arkansas in front of all the Razorback fans. It means a lot to represent the university and to call the Hogs on 17. I feel really proud of myself and it just felt amazing.

Q. Very young playing out here, and in the middle of a busy college season too. Just talk about being here this week around LPGA players and that that's been like.

MARIA MARIN: It's been of course different. All of them are professionals. They live for this. So for me to be here is like a privilege. Of course I work really, really hard all season last year to be here and to get the exemption.

I mean, it's just great.

Q. There is a lot of amazing players that have come through the Arkansas program: Maria Fassi, Stacy Lewis, just helped the team win the Solheim Cup. Talk about what it's like to have those mentors come through your program and hopefully help you get to this place, too?

MARIA MARIN: Of course they're pretty good players. They made history on the LPGA, Stacy. She's one of the biggest supporters on the program and for the LPGA, I know she has done a lot.

Maria, it was, as I said, a privilege to play with her and to play in front of all our home tournament. I expect one day to follow in their steps.

Q. I saw you played with Gaby I believe on Tuesday.

MARIA MARIN: Yes.

Q. How did that come about? Was there anything you learned from her or Maria playing with them the past few days?

MARIA MARIN: Yeah, when I played with Gaby we were talking and she told me, let's play, and I was of course super excited to play with her.

Shauna was with us few, so it was a good round. She gave my tips of the course and said to me in general if I ever needed something, like tell her, shoot her a call.

Played with Maria again being feeling her support even though we're playing, it's great.

Q. Talk about how you kept your nerves calm out there. It's a lot of pressure going into this week and you really seem to manage it well.

MARIA MARIN: Yes, I'm not going to lie, I was super nervous on the first tee and while hitting on the last four holes. If you're not nervous it means it doesn't matter to you and this means a lot to me.

I just tried to stay calm, breathe through it, and just trust my ability to do great shots.