MALLORY KINAHAN: We are pleased to be joined by Reagan Zibilski ahead of Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. So Reagan, first time playing in a Tour event. Obviously so much Razorback support here this week. What are your emotions before kicking off on the first tee?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: I'm super excited. I grew up coming to this tournament and played four years at Arkansas. Yeah, emotions are good. The vibes are good.
I'm just excited to be able to play out here with some of the best in the world and some of my fellow teammates and people that also played in Arkansas.
Yeah, I'm super excited.
MALLORY KINAHAN: As you mentioned, you came here spectating the tournament and also to be able to partner with some Razorback teammates. What does it mean to represent the University of Arkansas during the tournament?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: Yeah, I loved the University of Arkansas. I loved being a Hog, and it was my dream school growing up so getting to share the fairways with some fellow Razorbacks is really special.
To be able to represent the school post-college is a big deal. I've been working with Shauna with Choose Confidence and we talk a lot, so it's just a super fun environment to be a part of.
MALLORY KINAHAN: Also it is your first year on the Epson Tour. Playing great with nine cuts in ten starts. Where do you feel like your game is right now?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: Really good. Been a busy summer, and a lot of golf has been played, a lot more than I've been used to. Yeah, game is in a good spot. Super confident. Just kind of wanting to see some more putts fall.
Getting to be with my team and everyone be together is super good just because I'm super close to home. So getting everything to come together for a good week. I'm excited.
MALLORY KINAHAN: Follow-up question to that: You have obviously been at the University of Arkansas. How has that experience been like having that preparation, being on Epson Tour and just like life on the Tour?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: Yeah, it prepared me super well. I feel like I left college really equipped for professional golf. They prepared us in ways that just weren't golf related.
And you know, what the travel was going to be like and getting to be around Blessings and see pros come in and out and talk to them and get their opinions and thoughts is super important. I feel like it's a super good outlet for us.
And other girls on the team can probably say the same thing. Mike and Shauna did a great job, just on and off the golf course how to become a better person and a better player. They've produces some really good professionals, so, yeah, it's super exciting to see that and know that I can follow in their footsteps. It's pretty cool.
MALLORY KINAHAN: You mentioned not too far from home being from Springfield. Do you have some family here this week? What's the support staff look like for you?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: Yeah, people driving down for sure. Family and some friends and teammates will come out. Yeah, super fun. Excited to see who makes the drive.
I'm sure there will be some fellow Springfield people here, so, yeah, super fun.
Q. How many times would you say you played this course? And you feel good about course knowledge I imagine.
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: Yeah, yeah, course knowledge is definitely there. Playing here the past four years we've come up and played as a team and the Monday qualifier a couple times.
So, yeah, I really like the golf course. It's a really will are great golf course tee to green. Then just putting yourself in a good position to make some putts is a really big deal. But, yeah, I love this place.
Q. How special has this week been to you to be in an area that you're so familiar with around Mike and Shauna and just being back in Northwest Arkansas for the week?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: It's super special. Yeah, I'm super grateful to be in a position to play this event and to be around a very comfortable atmosphere.
Yeah, having my coaches and friends and you kind of see a familiar face around every corner, so that's been super fun. To be able to see some of the activities with Shauna's Choose Confidence and stuff like that has been super special. So, yeah, I'm happy to be back.
Q. Obviously spent four years here. Grew up not too far away. Everyone I talked to so far this week, this tournament, Northwest Arkansas community rallies and comes out and giant crowds all weekend. What is it about Northwest Arkansas that just makes it such a good stop on the Tour?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: I think it's the people. I really do. I feel like when you talk to different people that have been in different LPGA events this is definitely one of the stops they're most excited for just because the atmosphere is so lively and everyone wants to come support in the area.
You see whether it's different companies or nonprofits or charities, they're all involved in this event. I think it's just a great weekend for everyone to kind of come together and support women's golf, which is really special.
You definitely don't see that everywhere. Even in Fayetteville the university supports the event super well, so that's also fun to see.
Q. Yesterday you mentioned about Choose Confidence. You spoke with Shauna yesterday at the Choose Confidence. Talk about that a little bit, about as an alum at Arkansas now that you guys are giving back and introducing golf to the next generation.
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: It's so special. I remember when I was a freshman here, Shauna was just starting Choose Confidence. To see how far it's come and how much work she's put in and seeing her daughter, who has inspired her to start Choose Confidence, and to see how it's taken off is super fun.
I love Choose Confidence. I'm a huge fan. I always ask her if there is anything I can do to help and make it bigger and better.
It's super fun to see the next generation get excited for golf. That's what we want, right? Women's golf is growing bigger and better than ever, so feel like everything we can do to help them want to get out there and play the game and get better is super important.
So, yeah, what Shauna has been doing is amazing.
Q. As someone who grew up her in the area, has seen this area grow, this tournament grow, 20th year, to you as a fan and player, what does that mean to you about that you're a part of the tournament's 20th anniversary this week?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: Yeah, it's super special. It's definitely a full circle moment. I was talking to my teammate Ma-Jo about it. We looked up to this event and professional golf and now we're here and playing. It's definitely a little bit of an imposter syndrome for me. Yeah, super excited to be able to get out there and show them what I got.
This is my LPGA debut, so it's kind of just getting started and I'm excited.
Q. I apologize if you already said this, but did you come as a kid to watch this event? If so, who did follow?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: Yes, I came as a kid. I can't remember who I followed. I think we just hung around and watched groups come through. Yes, I watched as a kid before.
Q. How old would you have been when you first came?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: I want to say it was at least ten years ago, so 12, 13, somewhere in that range.
Q. And how much did that experience inspire you to be where you are today?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: So much. I feel like when you're a kid and you're growing up learning about the game, you look up to these girls so much, and what they do is kind of the standard. So I feel like to be able to watch and learn from them not just the way they play golf but the way they carry themselves and talk to me and just kind of how they live, is super important.
I feel like I was able to get a good grasp on that and to look up to the girls and, yeah, just learn from them.
Q. It kind of wild to you that people are going to ask for your autograph this week?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: Yes, very.
Q. You're on the Epson Tour. You earned your way to the ELCAP program. Talk about that program and how much it's helped you kickstart your professional career?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: Yeah, I feel like college golf is growing and it's become so much more competitive. For them to kind of create a pathway for women in college golf is super important. I know it's been around for the guys for a while now.
But, yeah, ELCAP was super, super special, and to be a part of the first class was super fun. Kind of getting to be around the other girls on Epson and have the shared first experiences with them is super fun.
Yeah, I've made friends out there. Some of us are the same age just figuring it out together.
Yeah, college golf is in a great spot. I know it's super, super perspective this year with ELCAP. I've been keeping up and watching to see who might be the next crew that comes out.
Yeah, it's been a super fun great learning experience for me just to know what I need to get better at, what I need to be better prepared for. So to get opportunities like this, it's very important for me to just learn and listen and take it all in.
Figure out, yeah, what I need to do to get to that next step.
Q. I know you said you came as a kid. I'm sure you got to experience the call the Hogs on 17. How excited are you to call the Hogs?
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: I'm so excited. Yeah. I remember that and I've seen videos. So, yeah, I'm super stoked, so hopefully people do it with me.
MALLORY KINAHAN: Perfect, I think we're all set. Thank you so much for your time Reagan, good luck this week.
REAGAN ZIBILSKI: Thank you. Guys.
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