Q. Michael, opened with an eagle, back and forth day, how would you assess your round?
MICHAEL BRENNAN: I was pretty happy with it. Got off to a really great start. I made a 3 on the first. Played a really nice second hole. Made about a 6-, 7-footer for birdie. Was a little nervous early. I feel like I showed that on my first chip on 3. But outside of that I played really solid. Hit a lot of good shots. Getting tougher out there, greens are starting to firm up so judging the bounces is getting difficult. Some of the pins were in tough spots, like either just above ridges, or, on 17 being back right in a really kind of tight area, and with the wind hard off the left and balls bouncing, it's just tricky to get it close to the hole. I felt like I hung tough and could have gotten pretty upset. I 3-putted 6 from like six or seven feet, so not very far. But I hung in there.
Q. You're only four shots off the lead, what's the game plan for tomorrow?
MICHAEL BRENNAN: I think a lot of the same stuff as today. I really like this golf course, it's one of my favorite tournaments of the year so far. I just think it's a good test. It's hard, it's not overly long. I think it shows that a course doesn't need to be 8,000 yards for it to hold up well and be tough out here. Played a college tournament out here and really liked it.
Q. Can you share some of your memories from winning the Colonial Collegiate back in 2022?
MICHAEL BRENNAN: Yeah, it was probably the best golf I had played in college all four years, I think it was my sophomore year. But I just, I don't know, I played well out here, had good memories, and I guess kind of continuing it. But I think I was 11-under through three rounds then and 8-under this week, so I've gotten worse (laughing) but it's okay.
Q. It's the NCAA Tournament this weekend, what's your favorite memory from playing?
MICHAEL BRENNAN: It's just fun being there with the team. I only played one year at La Costa. We made it two of the three years that I was there when it was at Grayhawk. I remember it being really hot like this week, just so humid. But it's definitely the most intense week of the year that we had in college and for obvious reasons. But hanging out with the team and knowing that it was the last event of the year was pretty exciting.
Q. What was the biggest takeaway from college golf to professional?
MICHAEL BRENNAN: Managing everything on your own is definitely different in professional golf. I have help, which is awesome, and makes my life a lot easier. But in college you just show up, you get told what uniforms to wear, when to show up, when to be there, and everything else is kind of taken care of for you. And in that aspect it was really nice, but being able to compete against some really high-level amateur golfers -- I mean, from even the Colonial tournament to this event, like I know I can think of a handful of guys off the top of my head that were playing that week that are also playing this week. So the competition is really high and it definitely helps you moving forward playing professional golf.
Q. Any predictions on winners for this weekend for the NCAAs?
MICHAEL BRENNAN: I have no idea. I know Wake Forest is not in it, so I really don't care outside of the Deacs.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports