LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY HOAKALEI

November 4, 2024

Hyo Joo Kim

Hye-Jin Choi

Ayaka Furue

Hinako Shibuno

Hoakalei Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, everyone, welcome inside the media center here at the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei. Pleased by joined by Hyo Joo Kim, Hye-Jin Choi, Ayaka Furue, and Hinako Shibuno.

Hyo Joo, welcome back to Hoakalei. You won this event in 2022. What is it is like to come back to a community with fond memories?

HYO JOO KIM: Yes, I'm really happy to be back here. Winning in 2022 was a very special moment for me and it's great to be playing for a sponsor match. I feel very supported here and I'm looking forward to playing this week.

Q. As one the LOTTE ambassadors in the field, what does it mean to represent a sponsor like LOTTE who has been intertwined with the LPGA throughout your career?

HYO JOO KIM: Yes, I feel very supported here to represent LOTTE. To be honest I feel a little bit of pressure. Instead of focusing on the pressure I am just looking forward to playing great this week.

Q. Hye-Jin, what does it mean to you to be back here in beautiful Hawai'i?

HYE-JIN CHOI: Yes, I've been playing in Hawai'i since I was an amateur and I've been very happy with my results playing here. Hawai'i always feels special to me and I cherish the experiences here every time I come. I love the food here, the nature, so I'm just really happy to be playing here again.

Q. I was going to ask, what are you looking most forward to this week? Is there any specific restaurant or food that you enjoy every time you come back here?

HYE-JIN CHOI: Yes, as this is my sponsor I'm playing for my sponsor this week, so of course I want to do well. Other than that, I'm really looking forward to great food here, especially seafood.

And the golf course here, they have lots of delicious food so just being in this beautiful setting is such a joy for me.

Q. Ayaka, you are coming off a T10 finish at the TOTO Japan Classic. What did you take away from your play last week?

AYAKA FURUE: I think it was one of the best scores that I had in Asian Tour, and I was really happy with that.

This course is kind of a little bit different type of the course I had in Japan, so I have to read the greens and care about the breaks, everything, so it's going to be challenging type of course I think.

Q. You've had an incredible season so far. What are your goals as we only have three events left in the LPGA Tour season?

AYAKA FURUE: Yeah, I just want to keep my momentum going through the end of the year.

Q. Hinako, you had a runner-up performance here in 2022. What do you like most about Hoakalei and what do you think of the course so far this year?

HINAKO SHIBUNO: It was very memorable when I played with Hyo Joo last day in 2022. It's kind of different last year and two years ago with runner-up. But I have to care about the grass and wind and everything. I'm very looking forward to playing.

Q. What have you been working on heading into this tournament?

HINAKO SHIBUNO: Very looking forward to being here in Hawai'i.

Q. Hyo Joo, I just want to ask, are what is it like getting to the end of this season? What did you take away from this season on tour for you?

HYO JOO KIM: I really need to focus this week because this could be the determining moment for CME points for 2025, so I'm going try my best.

Q. Hye-Jin, you just played a practice round with Ayaka. What did you think of the course and what did you like most about it so far?

HYE-JIN CHOI: Yes, so this course is notorious for its wind so determining the wind direction and also the style of the greens are pretty different, so I need to focus on my approach and second shots to play well this week.

Q. Ayaka, I would love to know, what is your favorite part of coming back to Hawai'i and participating in the LOTTE Championship?

AYAKA FURUE: I like the atmosphere off Hawai'i. Kind of like -- how do I say, it's kind of relaxing style, so I am looking forward to enjoying that atmosphere.

Q. One last question and then we will let you guys go. Hinako, Hyo Joo talked about this being a great opportunity to earn CME points. How do you focus on the golf and not about the points after an event like this?

HINAKO SHIBUNO: Well, I haven't really cared about the CME points and I don't even know the ranking. I haven't checked yet. You know, it's always same that I have to do my best in next weeks.

THE MODERATOR: With that I think we will wrap up. Thank you all.