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QUICK QUOTES: Nicole Castrale

First-round notes

Honda LPGA Thailand returns to LPGA schedule. After a hiatus in 2008 to accommodate the tournament's move from fall to spring, the LPGA returns to Siam Country Club for the 2009 Honda LPGA Thailand this week. Fifty-eight pros and two amateurs have 18 of 72 holes in the books on the new 6,477-yard Plantation Course, which is set up just eight yards longer than the Old Course in 2007. Players are competing for $1.45 million in prize money - $150,000 more than 2007.

Suzann Pettersen made eagle on the 72nd hole of regulation to defeat Laura Davies by one stroke at the Honda LPGA Thailand 2007, which was held Oct. 25-28, 2007.

Hong takes early lead at Honda LPGA Thailand. South Korean Jin Joo Hong set the tone early at the Honda LPGA Thailand in the first group of the day, finishing at 6-under-par 66 (35-31) and two strokes ahead of five players tied for second at 4-under-par 68.

Hong's front nine was up-and-down, going birdie-birdie-bogey-birdie on her opening holes. She found another bogey on the par-4, seventh hole and made the turn at 1-under-par 35. She lit up the back nine with an eagle on the 11th hole - a chip in from 25 yards, which was followed up by three birdies in four holes (13, 15, 16).

Five tied for second. It appeared 4-under-par 68 was the score to match in the opening round of the Honda LPGA Thailand on Thursday as five players hit that mark: Kristy McPherson (35-33); 2009 SBS Open at Turtle Bay champion Angela Stanford (33-35); eight-time Tour winner Paula Creamer (35-33); Helen Alfredsson (34-34), who is making her 2009 debut after two season wins in 2008; and Brittany Lang (34-34), who carded the only bogey-free round among the five women. Tied for runner-up, the group combined for six bogeys, 24 birdies and one eagle by Stanford - a four-foot putt, which was the result of her 3-wood from 229 yards.

Ochoa makes season debut, tied for 12th. Reigning Rolex Player of the Year Lorena Ochoa made her 2009 season debut at the Honda LPGA Thailand with a 1-under-par 71 (36-35) on the Plantation Course of the Siam Country Club. She is tied for 12th after 18 holes and a round that included four birdies (holes four, 10, 11, 14) and three bogeys (three, 12, 18).

QUICK QUOTES: Nicole Castrale

Jin Joo Hong, 34-32=66 (-6)
Scorecard: Hole 1, 375-yard par 4: birdie - 6-iron from 160 yards to 12 feet
Hole 2, 537-yard par 5: birdie - 58-degree wedge from 60 yards to nine feet
Hole 3, 164-yard par 3: bogey - 7-iron from 154 yards to 30 feet above the hole, three putt
Hole 4, 382-yard par 4: birdie - 7-iron from 143 yards to 18 feet
Hole 7, 382-yard par 4: bogey - into bunker, lay up 30 yards outside of bunker, 6-iron from 160 yards to 40 feet, two putt
Hole 11, 500-yard par 5: eagle - 52-degree wedge to 25 yards, chip in
Hole 13, 520-yard par 5: birdie - 52-degree wedge from 94 yards to six feet
Hole 15, 354-yard par 4: birdie - 52-degree wedge from 95 yards to 15 feet
Hole 16, 172-yard par 3: birdie - 5-iron from 166 yards to 18 feet

Jin Joo Hong Interview

DANA GROSS-RHODE: Can you talk about your round today and being a leader right now?
JIN JOO HONG: My putting was really good. It really saved me. I had some really bad drives but I was able to catch up with my great putting.

Q. Can you talk about your any off-season? Were you working very hard on putting? What were you working very hard in doing during the off-season that makes you so strong now?
JIN JOO HONG: I came to Thailand a month in advance of this tournament and practiced with my coach. I have played and practiced everyday. So, I really got a very good feel for my swing. I felt really good coming into today in this tournament because I have a lot of confidence in my game.

Q. Who is your coach and where were you staying while you were here?
JIN JOO HONG: His name is Ahn Joo Hwan and we were staying at Ayuttaya province, one and a half hours northeast of Bangkok.

Q. What happened to your normal caddie?
JIN JOO HONG: My normal caddie decided to get married but I have a lot of confidence in my new caddie even though this is her first time caddying on the LPGA Tour. I felt very relaxed having someone I could easily chat with on the course.

Kristy McPherson, 35-33=68 (-4)
Scorecard: Hole 6, 515-yard par 5: birdie - pitching wedge from 111 yards to three feet
Hole 10, 387-yard par 4: bogey - 8-iron to 20 feet, three putt, missed three and a half-foot par putt
Hole 11, 500-yard par 5: birdie - lob wedge from 65 yards to four feet
Hole 13, 520-yard par 5: birdie - 9-iron from 124 yards to two feet
Hole 14, 396-yard par 4: birdie - 8-iron from 156 yards to 12 feet
Hole 15, 354-yard par 4: birdie - gap wedge from 95 yards to 14 feet

Q. Another good game for you today both at the end of last year and this year. How are you feeling about your game right now ?
KRISTY MCPHERSON: I think at the end of last year or quarter of last year, I improved my putting a lot, especially my short putts on my short putts. I made a lot of putts today and saved a lot of pars. That was what I did today. There was couple of putts that I would like to have back. I think when you got confidence on short putts you release a lot of pressure. I didn't think the scores will be that low. The greens are little firm. Scores are a lot lower than I think.

Q. Did you find it difficult to play in hot weather?
KRISTY MCPHERSON: I think so. I drank about one bottle of water for each hole. You know you were doing fine; I probably drank 15 bottles of water out there, but never used the bathroom. I think the heat is going to be tough while I play, but the caddie would find it harder because they need to carry a big bag.

Q. What are your strengths and weaknesses for today?
KRISTY MCPHERSON: Today I hit the ball really well. I hit about 15 greens so it gave me lots of opportunities for birdies. There are some holes our there that you know you would not made birdie but you made par. I think course management is important and with that I did very well.

Q. What is your expectation in this competitive tournament?
KRISTY MCPHERSON: It is very competitive. There are 60 top players in the world. The goal last season was to get in this event. Now, I am here, but it is going to be tough. There are lots of great players out there. The next three days, I will look to make a lot of pars and take birdies when they come. I will try not to look at the scoreboard because there are some big names that can scare you off. I have to try to stay in my game.

Q. Is this your first time in Thailand? Can you talk about that?
KRISTY MCPHERSON: Yes, I love Thailand. I went to walk down the street yesterday and made my way back safely. My favorite things about Thailand are the massages and pedicures. That was what most of the girls and caddies have been doing all week. It has beautiful weather, beautiful golf course. No complaints so far!

Angela Stanford, 33-35=68 (-4)
Scorecard: Hole 1, 375-yard par 4: bogey - 7-iron to 35 feet, three putt
Hole 2, 537-yard par 5: birdie - 3-wood to 45 feet (front of the green), two putt
Hole 3, 164-yard par 3: birdie - 7-iron to 12 feet
Hole 7, 382-yard par 4: birdie - 9-iron to 30 feet (bottom tier of the green)
Hole 9, 400-yard par 4: birdie - 8-iron out of the bunker to five feet
Hole 11, 500-yard par 5: eagle - 3-wood from 229 yards to four feet
Hole 12, 178-yard par 3: bogey - 6-iron over the green, chip to 18 feet, two putt
Hole 13, 520-yard par 5: bogey - wedge out of the fairway bunker into the greenside bunker, wedge to 20 feet, two putt
Hole 16, 172-yard par 3: birdie - 6-iron to 25 feet

DANA GROSS-RHODE: Angela, you have been played phenomenally - three wins in your last seven starts. Today, you started with a tie for second after the first round of the Honda LPGA Thailand. That's pretty impressive. Could you talk about that?
ANGELA STANFORD: You know, it has been a lot of fun. I've just had so much fun hitting the golf ball. I have been rolling ball really well. I putt it very well again today. The stats may not show it, but I feel good about my game.

Q. It looks like you are more confident after winning in Hawaii and you are now doing well?
ANGELA STANFORD: Yes, I feel confident this time. I am not worried about anything else around me. I try to focus what I have to do. My caddie has done a great job, too, in trying to keep me in a moment to play one shot at a time. I felt like I am so focused on what I am doing. A lot of time, I did not even know what happened at the end of the day.

Q. You think you can do better tomorrow?
ANGELA STANFORD: You know, I made some mistakes out there today. I don't feel like I played my best today on the golf course. I have to try to be better about my target. You have to be very careful.

Q. In your opinion what is the most difficult hole in this course?
ANGELA STANFORD: I have to say maybe the par 5, 13th. It's shape and my misses are to the right and all the troubles are on the right. I bogeyed it today and just visually, it doesn't look right today.

Q. Do you think this tournament is more competitive compare to a tournament in Hawaii?
ANGELA STANFORD: I think if you go by a number, there are the top 10 players (on the Rolex Rankings) here. This game is so different from any other games. I don't want to say it is more competitive, but if you are just strictly looking at numbers, yes all top 10 are here this week and that makes it very competitive.

Paula Creamer, 35-33=68 (-4)
Scorecard: Hole 1, 375-yard par 4: bogey - 9-iron from 125 yards short of the green to 15 feet, missed putt
Hole 2, 537-yard par 5: birdie - 58-degree wedge from 45 yards to five feet
Hole 4, 382-yard par 4: birdie - 8-iron from 140 yards to four feet
Hole 14, 396-yard par 4: birdie - 6-iron from 155 yards to 20 feet
Hole 15, 354-yard par 4: birdie - 54-degree wedge from 95 yards to six feet
Hole 18, 360-yard par 4: birdie - 9-iron from 110 yards to 20 feet

Q. Thank you for joining us Paula. It was good day out there. It was hot, but you're done. How about your first round back in Thailand?
PAULA CREAMER: The golf course was in really good shape today. The greens were fast and the fairways were a little more firm. Some of it was really difficult to get through. I didn't hit the ball as well as I had before. I missed lot of greens. I think I only hit 11 greens today. My chipping really came along well and I putted it really well.

Q. Paula, you are a very big name and you really met expectation today. What do you think about that?
PAULA CREAMER: I don't know I guess I just go out and played my game. I really like this golf course a lot. You have to play well. I have to hit good golf shots over here. I feel prepared. Last time I came here I finished third and I want to try to win this event. It is pretty important but I still have a few more days left.

Q. May I know your opinion about your confidence in dethroning Lorena Ochoa and stepping up to be number one?
PAULA CREAMER: I have worked really hard in the past couple of years. It is a matter of time. Also, Lorena is working as hard as I am. I have to work twice as hard as she did. There are lots of players out there who want to be number one player. It is just a matter of how badly you want it. We will see what happen but that is my goal.

Q. Has the crowd impacted your game?
PAULA CREAMER: No, it was nice to be able to play among people who enjoy watching and understand golf. They know what a good shot is. When you play around the fairways and greens (and can't see where the ball lands), you want to know whether they are good shots or not. Hopefully, the crowd will get bigger and bigger.

Q. Has your score exceeded expectations?
PAULA CREAMER: I feel good about how I played. I shot 4-under out here for the first day. There are a lot of things I did well and there is room for improvement. That is the way you have to look at it. I go out and hit some ball, chip and putt a little bit. If tomorrow is calm, the score could be a lot lower. If it is windy, it could be a lot harder.

Helen Alfredsson, 34-34=68 (-4)
Scorecard: Hole 1, 375-yard par 4: birdie - 8-iron from 131 yards to eight feet
Hole 2, 537-yard par 5: birdie - lob wedge from 61 yards to six feet
Hole 5, 287-yard par 4: birdie - lob wedge from 63 yards to five feet
Hole 9, 400-yard par 4: bogey - 5-iron from 185 yards left of the green, chip to 15 feet, two putt
Hole 13, 520-yard par 5: birdie - lob wedge from 88 yards to seven feet
Hole 16, 172-yard par 3: birdie - 6-iron from 166 yards to 25 feet

Q. A great round out there. Did you ever figure that there would be so many players tied for second at 4-under-par?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: I had no idea about anything. It was my first round of the year. I just wanted to get around and hit some shots and, yeah, it's nice.

Q. With the wind factored in with the heat, what do you do to get through the round?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Drinking, drinking, drinking.

Q. How many water bottles?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Oh, I have no idea. Geeze, has to be four or five liters, at least. And the Gatorade on top of it. But, it's a test. That's what we work out for and try to stay in shape. It's just a little bit of a shocker, being in Sweden with our winter jackets. But, it's alright as long as you drink a lot. You can actually manage.

Q. Are you feeling 100 percent?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: I think so. I look forward to it. I'm pretty healthy. Like I said, last year, it's such a difference when you're working on something and, you know. My coach has been so good. It's just enjoyable not to have to fight other things.

Q. It's a little early, but after being a captain of the 2007 European Solheim Cup Team, has the possibility that you'll have qualified to play on the 2009 team crossed your mind?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: No, not really. It's hard to not because you can't control what anybody else does. It's a wonderful feeling to be part of The Solheim Cup in any way, shape or form that you're there. But it would be quite funny to be on that end and then come back around.

Brittany Lang, 34-34=68 (-4)
Scorecard: Hole 4, 382-yard par 4: birdie - gap wedge to two feet
Hole 5, 287-yard par 4: birdie - lob wedge from 55 yards to 10 feet
Hole 11, 500-yard par 5: birdie - chip to two feet
Hole 18, 360-yard par 4: birdie - knock-down pitching wedge to eight feet

Q. You're off to a great start between Hawaii and now here. What's clicking for your ?
BRITTANY LANG: I don't know. I've been playing a lot of good golf, as of the way I played last year. Getting out of my own way and letting myself play. I know I have the talent and I work hard. I'm just trying to be aggressive and play with the intensity that I have and get back to getting the ball in the hole.

Q. What do you think are your strengths right now?
BRITTANY LANG: Well, my putting stroke has improved immensely, over the past two years. I've worked really hard on it, so I'm now a very good putter, which, I used to be kind of streaky. So, I'm consistently a good putter and just continue to work on my mental game and be positive and focus through the whole round.

Q. Well, focusing was put to the test here.
BRITTANY LANG: With the heat?

Q. Yes. What do you do to get yourself through the round?
BRITTANY LANG: I mean, today wasn't that bad with the wind, honestly. I was fine. But, just make sure you drink plenty of water, Gatorade; get plenty of rest. I told my brother I was not going to complain about the heat because it takes a lot out of you. When I complain through a round, I'm exhausted when I get done, so I'm like, ‘Ok, no complaining this week.'

Q. A lot of players have said the greens are tricky. Have you found yourself adjusting your shots into the greens at all?
BRITTANY LANG: Well, I hit the ball pretty high and they are pretty firm. Luke and I account for eight yards short to bounce it up. But, I hit the ball pretty high, so I'm pretty lucky I don't have a problem with that. I hit a high cut.

QUICK QUOTES

Nicole Castrale, 36-33=69 (-3)

Q. Nicole, a great start to the round today. Are you feeling good about this year?
NICOLE CASTRALE: Yeah, I had a really good off season. I played all right at Turtle Bay, even just a little rusty, but saw a lot of good things come out of it. I played well today, but missed some greens and my short game saved me and hit a lot of good shots.

Q. Your thoughts about coming to Thailand this year and what you have to do to prepare for this week?
NICOLE CASTRALE: You just get on the flight and, it's just whether we're here or in the U.S., it's still another event. You have to get the driver in the fairway and hit greens, so really not many changes.

Q. Anything in particular about this course that you're noticing?
NICOLE CASTRALE: This is a great golf course, it's in great shape. The greens are firm, so when it gets windy, it gets hard to hold them downwind. Otherwise, it's a really golf course, great facility, and I'm glad to be here.

Q. Was there anything you were working on during the off-season that you're seeing come out this week?
NICOLE CASTRALE: I'm just trying to get a little more consistent. I was lost a bit, I'd say, last year and, just now working on me knowing what's going on in my swing and my short game. I worked a lot with my coach, Bill Harmon, on a lot of different technique stuff. And just trying to put it all together.

Q. And what are you looking forward to tomorrow?
NICOLE CASTRALE: Hitting fairways and greens.

Pre-tournament Interviews

Tournament Preview