May 5, 2011

Player Quotes

Nicole Zhang – Notre Dame – Freshman

On playing on her home course:
“It has definitely been an advantage for our team. We know the course very well, and we’re not afraid of certain holes where others may be afraid. It has been a great experience to play in front of so many people here.”

On her strengths today:
“My driver has been the strongest aspect of my game today. On this course you need to get (the ball) in play if you are going to play well, and I was able to do that today.”

Mandi Morrow – Kent State – Junior

On hitting a hole-in-one on #14:
“Making the hole-in-one felt pretty good. I hadn’t been playing too well up to that point, and it really helped boost my confidence. I actually got a hole-in-one when I was in 3rd grade, but it’s been a while since then. I was just hoping to get the ball on the green, and when it went in, I just threw my hands up. It felt great to get that shot after a few not-so-good shots before then.”

Ani Gulugian – UCLA – Freshman

On her play today:
“I felt like I was hitting the ball really well and making a lot of great putts and just being consistent. It took a little time to adjust to the wind, but I just tried to keep a good tempo with the wind swirling and such.”

On ending the day on a birdie putt on #18:
“It felt really awesome (to get the birdie). I knew I really wanted to birdie eighteen, and when I got there, I thought to myself ‘OK, it’s going in the hole” and I stroked it and it went in.”

Coaches Quotes

UCLA Head Coach Carrie Forsyth

On having her team at three over par at the end of the first day:
“It feels good. I think we have played well, and after our rather poor PAC-10 tournament, we were trying to get some momentum going for nationals. I want the girls to have a good tournament and feel good about their games when we leave here.”

On the windy weather conditions:
“It’s really difficult when the wind is gusty and swirls like it has today. You start to second guess your shot selections and your clubs. It is just something you have to get used to and you have to be decisive. I thought we did a good job with it today, and most of our girls had more of a clubbing issue rather than poor shots.”

LSU Head Coach Karen Bahnsen

On the Warren Golf Course and dealing with the conditions:
“It’s a great golf course and a really hard golf course, and we just had to stay mentally tough and not let your emotions get the best of us or get frustrated out there, and that was hard at times. It has been pretty cold for us here. We just came from 95 degree weather back home, but it’s golf and everyone is playing in it, and it actually wasn’t too bad today. We play a lot in the wind, so we were used to that.”

On Megan McChrystal’s strong finish (eagle and birdie to finish even):
“She had started the round rather poorly. She was four over after four holes, but she just settled down and those last few holes she started trusting it. Two holes before her eagle she had lipped out for a birdie. She had to be patient and focus and know that they were going to drop, and eventually they did.”

Notre Dame Head Coach Susan Holt

On hosting the NCAA Central Regional:
“We are tremendously honored to have been selected to host this event, and I do believe our girls benefited today by having played this course in almost every condition possible. The conditions have changed significantly in the past two days, and are supposed to be different tomorrow, and I believe our girls are well-prepared to continue to be consistent and in good shape to possibly advance.”