Q. Here with Ally Ewing. Another solid round today. 5-under 67 to keep backing it up. Started off with a couple birdies; hot start. Walk me through your day.
ALLY EWING: Yeah, it was exciting to get out to a good start. My mindset going into today was just to play within myself and go out, execute shots, and I did that really well.
Unfortunate bogey on 18. It's a tough hole and didn't get a ball up and down. Really happy with how I played and how I handled myself, and obviously in a good position for tomorrow.
Q. What's different? I mean, obviously been putting it better. Found that with your putting. This week you look very comfortable out there. You look like you know you can make birdies. Is this just a golf course that suits your eye?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, I think it's that. I've had my ups and downs this year just kind of mentally trying to gain that confidence back in every aspect, whether it's playing solid, putting a score together, rolling in putts, and just kind of the last few weeks I've just really prepared mentally as well as physically for being in this position and knowing that I'm more than capable of being here.
I've proved it, and obviously I've put some good scores together to put myself in a good position for tomorrow. But tomorrow is going to be a new day, there are new challenges.
But I can't be anything but excited for what I've done the first three days.
Q. What's the mindset? Nothing to lose at this point. Like you said, kind of an up and down year. Be nice to get a win three years in a row. What are you thinking about?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, I'm such a shot by shot, hole by hole type person. You know, not really getting ahead of myself.
Me and my caddie, Dan, are out there just trying to play within each shot. We walk up to it, we figure out how far it is to the front, how far it is to the pin, pick a pitch number, and try to execute a shot.
And then whether that's targets off tee, it's just being really in a good team mindset with Dan. We've worked great together. He's done great keeping light conversation between shots. That's just kind of how I am as a player.
My mindset doesn't change for tomorrow. It's just kind of go out and, as my husband would tell his girls, they have a practice called do your job, and tomorrow I'm just going to go out and try to do my job, and that's execute one shot at a time.
Q. When you're rolling it as well as you're rolling it, does it take pressure off the rest of your game, particularly your golf swing?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, but I feel -- I've been so confident in my swing this year. I've struck it great. I've been driving it great. For me, the putting is just -- you know, I've seen some putts go in, and not all putts are going to go in, but it certainly is great these first three days to see some of the mental aspects of trying to get the stroke in a better tempo, and then just seeing putts go in and being a confident putter.
I lost confidence throughout the year, and just seeing putts go in and being a confident putter, that's kind of where I'm at mentally, and going to approach tomorrow with the same mindset.
Q. You might be one of the only players out here who have the same teacher that you had when you were, what, 13.
ALLY EWING: Yeah.
Q. And yet, I wouldn't know the guy if he walked up here. He's never out here.
ALLY EWING: Yeah.
Q. Explain your relationship with your teacher.
ALLY EWING: Yeah, both my coaches, VJ Trolio, Full Swing, and Tim Yelverton short game, we get all of our work done at home. There was a time in my junior golf, collegiate golf that I was too analytical, so for me, once I leave Old Waverley, it's no more technical thinking.
It's getting out on the golf course, preparing how to play it, and executing shots. That's kind of -- he's maybe been out to a couple events in my entire career. It's just kind of how I like to prep for a golf tournament.
I feel like technically I'm very sound and can trust what I know that my golf swing does. So when I get to a golf course, it's just figuring out how to play the course. That's just kind of how I've gone about my career.
Q. Pretty calm person. Just how excited are you to be in contention, sleeping on the lead, going into tomorrow?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, I mean, I'm excited. Obviously there is a ton of golf left, 18 holes. I mean, as far as excitement, this is exactly what you want to do, exactly where you want to be after 54 holes.
You know, I'm going to go to sleep tonight, get some food, who knows what it's going to be.
For me, I am really excited, but I know tomorrow is going to have its challenges, and I'm going to have to not get ahead of myself. I'm looking forward to the challenge.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports