LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY HOAKALEI

November 6, 2024

Honorine Nobuta Ferry

Hoakalei Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Honorine, your first competitive round on the LPGA Tour. Just what was today like for you?

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: It was amazing. I will definitely never forget this round. This was probably like one of the most nerve-wracking rounds of my life, but also like the most fun I've ever had on the course.

I had a great group today, which I was really lucky to have. I mean, Lily is like an amazing person. I played with her in the pro-am last year so I was really grateful to have that.

Q. To be able to prepare for this event, what went into that for you?

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: Well, I got here probably around like a week early, you know, just getting used to the course, different conditions. I just came back from Japan, so different grass. Obviously I wasn't used to playing in this kind of wind. This is like 20, 25 miles per hour, so that was something I had to get used to all over again.

But yeah, it's such a tough course, so I did my best. You know, it wasn't the best.

Q. For people that might not know you, obviously you have a connection to Hawai'i.

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: Yeah.

Q. And now you're back here. Kind of what has your journey through golf been like?

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: Yeah, so I started golf here. The first tournament I ever went to visit was the LOTTE in 2016, and I followed Michelle Wie who was my favorite Hawaiian golfer back then.

That's when my golf journey began. I went to Punahou and that's when I was starting golf, and then we moved to Texas just so it was closer to all the tournaments that I was playing there.

I mean, I learned how to play golf here. I have so many friends in golf, so it's really special to be back here.

Q. You said it's special, but how does it feel to have the first LPGA event here in Hawai'i?

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: Yeah, I mean, it's amazing. I'm really happy to be participating in an LPGA event in Hawai'i. That means a lot to me, especially since I watched this tournament growing up a lot.

So I'm really excited to be here and do my best tomorrow.

Q. Does it feel kind of a little full circle moment knowing that you watched this?

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: Yeah, definitely. It's weird because I was watching Brooke Henderson, Michelle Wie, like eight years ago before I was even playing competitively. Now I see them next to me hitting at the range. It's definitely really special. Really grateful to have this opportunity.

Q. Going into tomorrow, did today kind of calm those nerves a little bit?

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: It definitely calmed those nerves. I had like I think 11 or 12 straight pars in a row so it was a little bit frustrating.

There was some putts I wish had gone in. I would take 12 pars in a row tomorrow as well. See how it goes.

Q. I know you have been around the professional game a little bit, even as an amateur. Have you been starstruck by anyone this week?

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: Well, I would say I was watching the TOTO, like a couple days ago, so it's just like so weird to see all the players from TOTO here hitting next to me.

That's really special. And I collect like these golf cards so I was asking my mom, like, hey, maybe I should get some autographed. We'll see about that.

Q. I know the JLPGA has their own trading cards.

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: Yeah, I have those, too.

Q. For you in general, what do you take away from this first round? I know you talked a little bit about settling the nerves.

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: Yeah.

Q. Also realizing you're 14 years old out here competing against the best in the world, how do you not take that for granted?

HONORINE NOBUTA FERRY: Well, I mean, I think the biggest thing for me is my mental. Like I feel like distance-wise I'm not losing too much against the average field. Like I hit it around 240, so that is not a disadvantage for sure.

So I think just learning to play aggressive to the pins where you can get aggressive and then learning to play safe to the pins where you have to play safe has been like a huge learning experience for me.

Then watching the two pros I played with today, you know, being really aggressive, hitting it close, and then also playing safe and chipping out when they have to, I learned a lot watching that.