Q. Here with Paula and Amelia. I wasn't able to look up the team name, but, Paula, do you have a team name?
PAULA RETO: Yes, we're Hot Shots.
Q. What went into the team name there?
PAULA RETO: We had posted a post on Instagram asking people if they can help us get a name because we couldn't come up with something, and we had a couple of cool ones here and there, but we said if someone can help us find a name, we'll give them a gift. There was somebody, so we kind of liked the Hot Shots.
AMELIA LEWIS: Yes, so thank you.
Q. Definitely some hot shots between the two of you today. Amelia, take me through this round of golf for you and just the team dynamic between you and Paula.
AMELIA LEWIS: We're best friends, so we knew we were going to have a good time out there. In the beginning it was definitely tough. It rained our first five holes, and it was just par was a good score. We were lucky to get a birdie there too.
Whenever we were out of position we put ourselves in really good recovery spots. We made a few putts and we took the birdies as they came. Just kind of flowed all day, and we had a lot of good opportunities.
Q. Paula, that rain that came this morning definitely made this course a little different than maybe we were all expecting. What was the strategy as the two of you prepared for foursomes today?
PAULA RETO: We were just trying to give ourselves a good opportunity and kind of go into the bigger part of the green or where up and down is more easier, I would guess. Try to lean towards that side. Just not make many big mistakes.
You know, we talked about it. We are going to make bogeys. We are going to hit bad shots. So long as we kind of go with it and not worry too much about it, hang our head, that kind of thing, I feel like then the vibe stays good and we're able to recover easy.
Q. We've seen this happen the last two years with this tournament, Amelia. An under par score -- definitely one to take with you. Three birdies on the card today.
AMELIA LEWIS: Paula made every putt to start off with, so I was very proud of her. Then this last hole she putted it to 12 feet and I was happy to make birdie in front of the crowd here on 18.
I knew par would be great on a day like today. That was our goal to finish under par.
Q. We've seen you come up through the LPGA this first half of the season. Seen you in some good positions, Amelia, you know, just grinding it out on the Epson Tour. What's it been like for you as you both prepare a more laid-back event such as this?
PAULA RETO: We're kind of taking our experiences we've been having this year and sort of keeping that in mind and building off of that, and then just building with each other and kind of enjoying it and more of like a fun thing for sure.
Yeah, I feel like it's been nice.
Q. Amelia, what have you been working on? This is your first tour event this season and your first one since the three that you had last year.
AMELIA LEWIS: What most people might not know is Epson is a great developmental tour. There's some really, really good players out there. You can't just walk out there and play average golf and do well. You have to compete. It's a great place to develop your game.
I had wrist surgery in 2020, so I wanted to kind of find my game again, work on a few things, and it's been a great opportunity.
I've made almost every cut, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to be back here. I was here in 2019. I'm happy Paula asked me to be her partner.
Q. Who was your partner in 2019?
AMELIA LEWIS: Becca Hoffer.
PAULA RETO: I had a different partner every three years. Third time is a charm. Let's go. (Laughing).
Q. Paula, as you guys get ready for four ball, now that you have seen one round of competition golf here back at Midland Country Club, what's the goal going into tomorrow?
PAULA RETO: Yeah, I think we have -- we're going to have a little bit of a strategy. Whoever is up for birdie, if par is sort of close, maybe tap in for par, and then the birdie can be aggressive because we can pick up after that.
Definitely we're going to try to make as many birdies as we can. Still being relatively smart, but definitely more aggressive. Hopefully we get back on the game and we'll be fine.
Q. Amelia, how important is it to be on those four-ball days?
AMELIA LEWIS: Have you seen the scores in the past? You have to make birdies on the same holes as well. That's going to be important. But we're both playing well and we had a lot of chances today, so I think it's going to be a good day tomorrow too.
Q. Best of luck the rest of the week. Great job today, guys.
PAULA RETO: Thank you.
AMELIA LEWIS: Thank you.
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