Q. 63, excellent round. If we can get your impressions of the day from both of you, if possible, please.
DAVIS RILEY: We got off to a really good start. I think we were 5-under through five. We were just both playing really well, hitting fairways and greens. Both of us were putting really well.
We kind of slowed up on the last four or five, but it was a great day. We both hit it really well. I'm excited for the alternate shot tomorrow.
NICK HARDY: I think Davis said it well. We got off to a fast start. Definitely had it going. We were really just ham and egging it pretty good, birdieing opposite holes and stuff, which is what you've got to do.
A bit unfortunate we had a little bit of a slow finish, but it was really nice to get one on 18 there. Some momentum for tomorrow.
Q. How did you guys decide to team up?
DAVIS RILEY: I was on the fence of playing for a little while, and I know Nick had a partner for a little bit.
NICK HARDY: It was pretty last minute. I was partners with Thomas Detry for a while. Detry got asked by the Ryder Cup captain to play with Victor Perez. So the Illini pairing was vanished after that.
I think only a couple weeks, three weeks ago we texted each other, and we got hooked up then.
Q. Were you, Davis, thinking of playing with Will until he got hurt?
DAVIS RILEY: I talked to Will earlier in the year, and I knew he wasn't going to be playing. It just didn't fit the schedule for him. I didn't know I was going to play myself.
Once Nick had texted me and was looking for a partner, I was excited. He's a good buddy of mine and obviously a really good player. So I thought it was a perfect match.
Q. Neither of you guys had a lot of momentum coming into here. What have you found?
DAVIS RILEY: We just have very similar games. I feel like we're both solid ball strikers. We're going to create a lot of opportunity.
I just felt like we're getting on the greens and making some putts. It's pretty simple, and we're keeping it pretty stress free out there.
NICK HARDY: Like what he said, I feel like I've been hitting the ball great all year. Finally to get some momentum going in this format with Davis, seeing the ball go in, it's definitely been nice.
I think that's the only difference is a little momentum here and there. That's really all it takes.
Q. What would a win mean to you guys?
DAVIS RILEY: That would be awesome to get a first win with one of my good buddies would be awesome. We're excited to be up there. I feel like we've got some good momentum. We're just going to try to ride that out and have a good day tomorrow.
NICK HARDY: Just to have a chance is definitely special for us, I think. Going into the week, we talked about it. We've known each other for a long, long time, going back to 14, 15 years old and AJGA stuff.
I think, like Davis said, we have really similar games, and I think we really feed off each other well in this format.
Just having a chance means a lot, and I'm going to relish the opportunity.
Q. What club did you chip that third shot on 18 there?
NICK HARDY: That was a lob wedge. It was sitting down in the rough. I landed it right where I wanted to, just on that downslope there. I knew I had plenty of trickle out before the pin.
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