U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 19, 1994

Kelli Kuehne

Rae Anna Staples

LES UNGER: We had the kids in before with the Peanut Butter press conference. We are a stage above that now. We have two young ladies who in the last couple of weeks qualified for the U.S. Women's Open. On your right is Rae Anna Staples who is 14 years old from Florida. And she was the low scorer or medalist, however you describe that, in Florida. And we have Kelli Kuehne on your left who qualified in Texas and last week won the U.S. Junior Girls Championship. The two of them met in the semi finals of that event and Kelli won that too. They are certainly two of the leading junior girls in the United States. And Kelli, I am going to start with you because you got the gold medal. What has life been like back in Texas? I know you haven't been there long but since you walked away with your championship.

KELLI KUEHNE: Really great, had a lot of friends and family call to congratulate me, just to tell me good luck for the Open.

LES UNGER: Rae Anna, you played in the girls junior four years ago at 11, played in it four times. I told you we were going to discuss this because I think it is a fascinating story about the hole -- the par 3 hole back there when you were 11. Would you just tell us a little about it.

RAE ANNA STAPLES: I was on a par 3. It was about 180 yards and I was playing with two great golfers, and they both hit hole-in-ones in the same hole. I was the only one who couldn't reach the hole. I hit way short and I probably made a double bogey. I couldn't even reach 180 yards with the driver.

LES UNGER: The two girls used 5-irons for holes-in-one, and with a driver she couldn't get there but things have changed. Kelli, you have had a couple of practice rounds. Tell us who you have played with, and what you think of the course, and what is it like being around with some of these pros?

KELLI KUEHNE: Yesterday I got to play nine holes with Michelle McGann and that was really neat. I met her when I was younger. She hits it long. And I was just kind of hitting it trying to keep up, and it was really fun. She was really nice and got to talk to me a lot. Today I played with another amateur and Margaret Ward. It is nice. The rough is a little thick, greens are huge, but it is really good. It is very nice.

LES UNGER: How much did Michelle McGann outdrive you?

KELLI KUEHNE: Probably about 20 yards.

LES UNGER: Rae Anna, you just came off a pretty interesting group, tell us about it.

RAE ANNA STAPLES: I played with Nancy Lopez, Brandie Burton and Kelly Robbins. Well, talk about long hitters. Kelli Robbins is the longest one on tour. She was outdriving me by 70 yards on the fly, and she was a really good player. I love the course. It has great greens but the rough is really high, but it is out of play. But I like the golf course. They have great conditions.

LES UNGER: Just for the sake of identification, Mr. Staples is the skinny gentleman there with the white hat and Mrs. Kuehne, where are you, ma'am? She is sitting down there, and as far as I know, they accompany their kids on most tournaments; maybe not all. And now the floor is yours. Who has got a question?

Q. What do you learn by playing with players who have so much more experience than you have? Either one of you.

RAE ANNA STAPLES: Well, that is why I am here. I am here to get experience and it is a good feeling, and I like playing with better players. When I play at home I play with, you know, not so good players. It makes me play better when I play with better players.

KELLI KUEHNE: I think a lot -- they enjoy it a lot and they try and have fun; especially with the amateurs because I know yesterday I was a little uptight playing with Michelle the first hole; then just -- first hole she started talking to me and I relaxed a lot, and she just said, enjoy it, have fun, enjoy the atmosphere, the people, the players, and just go out and play golf; that is why you are here, learn about, you know, growing up on the course.

Q. Do you expect to be nervous Thursday?

KELLI KUEHNE: Yeah. I am going to be a lot more nervous the first tee. I like people-- that makes me feel like a lot of people are watching, and it gets me excited, so I think it will be a -- definitely going to be nervous, but in a good way.

RAE ANNA STAPLES: Well, I can't get more nervous than I was today playing with Nancy. I guess I will relax a little more since I am playing with another amateur junior, so that will be fun. I won't be as nervous as I was today.

Q. Did Nancy say anything to you?

RAE ANNA STAPLES: Gosh, yeah, when I told her I was 14 she said, wow, you are 14. I went, yeah, I am here - my first Open. She asked me how many Opens I have played in. This is my first one. Then I asked her how many she played in. She said 17. I said great.

Q. Is pro golf in both your futures?

RAE ANNA STAPLES: For me it is, I hope so, after college. I hope to play the LPGA.

KELLI KUEHNE: I am going to go through four years of college and then I hope to play on the LPGA Tour and come out here and play with all these girls.

Q. Have you got a college lined up? Do you know where you want to go?

KELLI KUEHNE: I am looking mainly at Oklahoma State and Tulsa. Arizona State, maybe. Kind of still wide open. I haven't decided yet.

LES UNGER: Kelli gets a lot of influence from two brothers who are attending Oklahoma State, so that is part of the deal?

KELLI KUEHNE: Yes.

Q. How much of an influence is that, Kelli?

KELLI KUEHNE: It is definitely a big influence, a lot of pluses and minuses to it. It is great having two brothers because we can help each other; we go play together; companionship, camaraderie, whatever you want, between three of us, there is probably more plus to going to school with them. I kind of want to get away when I go to school. My brothers are going to be right there, though, if I go to Oklahoma State. Either way I think it will be great and it will work out.

Q. Are there not periods of the year where you cannot play golf? There is more golf in Arizona; isn't there?

LES UNGER: Couple of places you are talking about are warm weather and Oklahoma State is not.

KELLI KUEHNE: Oklahoma State you get a lot of different weather; variations. It is very hot and very cold. I think that is an advantage because the weather-- you learn-- you don't play in perfect conditions ever. You learn how to play with the wind; when it is cold and hot and the weather is so perfect in Arizona, that can be good, but I think in a big way it can also take away from your learning experience in how to play golf.

LES UNGER: Rae Anna, there was rumor last week that your sister was going to caddie for you. Is that going to happen?

RAE ANNA STAPLES: That is what my dad says. He always tries to push it a little, but she is a little young to carry my bag. Especially, I have a light Ping, these caddie killers, no way.

LES UNGER: Your father is going to caddie.

RAE ANNA STAPLES: Yes.

LES UNGER: Kelli, tell us about your caddie.

KELLI KUEHNE: Tracey Phillips, one of my teachers, along with Hank Haney (Phonetic). He is just out here helping me along and caddying and trying to teach me how to play golf.

LES UNGER: You and he have a little conversation - if the pattern holds- he lines you up; is that basically what happens and then he steps off.

KELLI KUEHNE: Yeah, sometimes when I start hitting it bad, I can't do one of the easiest things, which is lining it up. He helps me get in the right general direction and just steps away and I hit it.

Q. What kind of expectations do either one of you have for this week?

KELLI KUEHNE: I think my first goal was getting here and now that I am here I think my next goal is going to be make the cut, just put two solid rounds together and play my best and make the cut.

RAE ANNA STAPLES: Exactly for me. I was just happy to make the field. I was really surprised to be a medalist (at qualifying). I didn't even think-- it was just for fun, really, but I played my best that I could, and I am hoping to make the cut here and play as well as I can.

Q. Any surprises here this week thus far; is this what you thought it would be, or is it better than you thought it would be or worse?

KELLI KUEHNE: Well, mom, don't laugh. But when I first got here, I really wanted to, you know, get a chance to sit down and talk to Nancy Lopez, and I walk in the locker room and the first person I see is her, and she is in the middle of a conversation. I was sitting there going oh, my gosh. I just froze and I am not shy at all. Most people think I'd just walk and talk to her. I looked at her, I was just -- my mouth dropped open. I walk in, my locker -- her locker is a couple down from mine. I ran and said, mom, guess what, look what I am next to. I saw her, but I think it is great. It is everything and more than what I expected it to be; the course, perfect fairways; smooth greens, huge greens, lots of hills, rough. I heard all about the rough. You know, it is hard to get out of, and it has definitely held up to its expectations.

Q. Did you finally talk to Nancy?

KELLI KUEHNE: I haven't had a chance to. I regret not saying hi or anything to her. But hopefully I will have a chance to. Next time I see her, I will not be quiet. I am going to run up to her and say hi.

RAE ANNA STAPLES: This is not at all what I thought it would be. It is really nice. I love these tournaments. I wish the juniors would be like this. But I have always really wanted to meet Nancy Lopez too. My dad signed up in the practice round. He is, like, yeah, I want her to play Nancy Lopez. I was like dad, no, because I would get so nervous. And I finally got to play with her. I was so nervous on the first tee. And I go up and I hit it in the rough, I am like, great, here it goes. And I played really well. I played really well. I was happy I finally got to meet her.

LES UNGER: Who told you to hit the second ball on the first tee?

RAE ANNA STAPLES: My dad.

LES UNGER: I thought that was one of the girls.

RAE ANNA STAPLES: Nancy said yeah, go ahead and hit another one because if you hit a bad shot, then you hit another one.

LES UNGER: Anybody got a question for a golfing mom or pop?

Q. Excluding the Girl's Junior last week, what is the highest level of competition that either one of you have faced?

KELLI KUEHNE: I play on American Junior Golf Association Tour and I have been highly competitive on the AJGA Tour playing and all these different events; never played in amateur, like U.S. Women's Amateur anything.

Q. A state amateur?

KELLI KUEHNE: No, I have just played -- not junior golf-- high school golf and that is it. I haven't had the -- you know, the experience of coming out, playing in the Open or playing in any other bigger events.

Q. Are you the best player on the high school team; do you know?

KELLI KUEHNE: My high school is just a bunch of -- me and my friend, I got these girls to work hard and, you know, we have a team. It is a great team, they work.

Q. It's a girl's team though?

KELLI KUEHNE: Yeah, girl's team.

LES UNGER: She won the state with a 67, 32, 27 hole score last year.

KELLI KUEHNE: Yes.

Q. Rae Anna, same question to you.

RAE ANNA STAPLES: Well, I have played in the Women's Amateur two times when I was 12 and 13. I played more Women's than I do Juniors, I don't know why. I just played so much better in Women's. I played in the Public Links I was the youngest for that, and the Women's Amateur, that was really a good tournament. That was -- it is -- they treat you like the pros there. It was really nice.

Q. That was at Kemper Lakes?

RAE ANNA STAPLES: Kemper and last year was at San Diego Country Club.

LES UNGER: Then this is your 7th U.S.G.A. Event?

RAE ANNA STAPLES: I believe 8th.

LES UNGER: I will accept your numbers. Well, thank you very much for being here. Well, I hope there is a reason to bring you back, and certainly wish you the best of luck here. Thank you.

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