RUONING YIN:
Q. Wonderful day for you. Right now with the clubhouse lead at 8-under par. Just what were the differences between yesterday and today for you?
RUONING YIN: I mean, today I'm just teeing off super early and I just feel part of me still in the bed.
Just kind of try to save some pars out there, make some putts, yeah.
Q. We saw the birdiefest on the back nine yesterday. I know you started on the back nine today. You talk about being a little bit more tired. Do you think that was kind of the main difference for you, or what was some of the changes you might have seen on the course?
RUONING YIN: I mean, today couple holes the hole location was super tough, and I think hole 11 and 5 and 6, my caddie just told me, okay, let's just make par here and get out of here.
Yeah.
Q. Was that kind of the emphasis on the day, that par was a good number for you?
RUONING YIN: Yeah. I think, I mean, par is always better than bogey, so I just tried to -- when I hit a bad shot I just tried to save par.
Q. Able to have a couple more birdies as you were coming in on your final nine holes. What worked so well? Take me through those two holes.
RUONING YIN: Okay, hole 7 I just hit a solid wedge shot there and leave me I think four feet birdie.
And last hole I got 132 left. I just think about just don't go right and just hit on the green, make the putt.
Yeah, and I'm glad I did it.
Q. We talked a little bit about yesterday. You talked with Sarah about battling the injury.
RUONING YIN: Yes.
Q. What does that look like for you when the last event you had on the LPGA Tour was Dow? You had those two Epson Tour events that you played. What did those Epson Tour events tell you about the state of your game and about the state of the injury you were battling?
RUONING YIN: I think it's my first Epson event in Battle Creek. After the second round I just feel my wrist hurting a little bit.
I actually thought about withdraw before the final round, but I just keep, keep, keep playing. After that, I just go to Florida and I do therapy with my wrist.
I think play Epson events, I just want to do some improvement with my putting and how I work the ball, yeah.
Q. Then you took some time off.
RUONING YIN: Yes.
Q. You took some time away from picking up a club.
RUONING YIN: Yes.
Q. You were telling me you could only putt because of your wrist and battling back from that.
RUONING YIN: Yes.
Q. What does it mean to see some of what you worked on come to fruition out here the past two days?
RUONING YIN: I mean, I spend a lot of time on my putting, and these two days my putting just go very well. I think pays off.
Q. How much does that help on a course like this?
RUONING YIN: Helps me so much. Like so, so much. Today on hole 5 I got maybe 20 feet putt for par and I just make it. That was pretty impressive.
Q. A nice little relief.
RUONING YIN: Yeah.
Q. Being able to be in contention heading into the weekend, one of the first times in your LPGA Tour career where that has happened for you, what do you hope to take away from the past two days going into this weekend?
RUONING YIN: I mean, I just need to keep putting and keep shooting good shots, and I think I need to work on my approach and driver shot a little bit and I think everything will be fine.
Q. How much do you think taking time way and rehabbing the injury helped your game, as opposed to where we saw you a couple months ago? Do you think your game is in a better state?
RUONING YIN: Yes, definitely. But I think when I start play golf I don't hit much balls actually, but in the beginning of this year I just feel so stressed and a lot of pressure to play on the LPGA Tour.
When I hit bad, I just want to press more, more, more, and I think that's why caused my injury. Right now I just play less and I hit the ball less. I think it's kind of get back to my old game.
Q. Old game.
RUONING YIN: Yeah.
Q. The CLPGA days of winning once you turned professional.
RUONING YIN: Yes.
Q. How much different do you think of yourself as a player and a rookie now than maybe at the beginning of this season? Do you think of yourself as a different person?
RUONING YIN: Yeah, I think my mental level was up and I just want to enjoy my golf, enjoy play on the course, enjoy play with the best players in it world.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports