Q. Connor, through two rounds 8-under; how would you summarize how special the last couple days have been out here?
CONNOR HOWE: Yeah, it's been awesome. Kind of a dream come true to have my first PGA start in my home state and have my twin brother on the bag and my family all down here.
It's awesome just to be playing the weekend, and get to do it for two more days is going to be a treat. So it's been a lot of fun.
Q. What have you seen in your game this week that's impressed you? Last time I checked you were second in strokes gained around the green, but what has really stood out to you in how you played?
CONNOR HOWE: Yeah, I think I'm proud of how my game developed over the years. I don't even feel like I had my best stuff hitting-wise the first two rounds. But, yeah, like you said around the greens and the putting has kept me in it, and kept it on the grass, which you got to do out here, and giving myself enough looks.
Yeah, just the putter and short game has been working so far.
Q. Coming in here as a sponsor's exemption for your first PGA TOUR start, what were expectations, goals, and how has it changed now that you're in contention going into the weekend?
CONNOR HOWE: Yeah, going into every event you're trying to win. You can't win it on the first hole, so it was nothing really changed with my game plan going into the week, it was just wanting to take it one hole and one shot at a time, just keep the ball in front of me, and just, yeah, do what I've been doing all year and just try and add it up at the end and get ball in the hole.
Q. You came from a ways back in Windsor to finish second. When is the last time you've been in a position like this?
CONNOR HOWE: Yeah, you know, that might be the last time, couple months ago. I had a couple other top 15, top 10 finishes up in Canada, but to be kind of in contention or in the mix, yeah, it's been probably two months.
Also had first stage of Q-School last week and I lost by two shots. I finished second and I was kind of in contention there, so that was kind of a good tune up as well to feel the nerves and feel that pressure coming down the stretch going into this week.
Q. I was able to dive into it some, but could you take us through when your journey has been like since you turned pro in '23 and left Georgia Tech?
CONNOR HOWE: Yeah, so turned pro in '23 and through PGA TOUR U got full status up in Canada that summer, so I played up there and finished 20th on the Money List. Got through Q-School that fall. Had conditional status on Korn Ferry last year. Played about 15 events.
Then same thing. Got through Q-School again and didn't get into many events this year. Played a few and just missed the Korn Ferry Tour playoffs, so I went and finished up in in Canada and played the last six events up there and here we are now.
Q. I think you finished 28 in the Fortinet Cup. How does that set you up for next year?
CONNOR HOWE: Yeah, so it gets me -- you know, I'll have all the starts down the first swing down in in Latin America. I believe it's six events. Yeah, I've got that locked up.
I'll have second stage in about a month from now so try and get to final stage and grab one of those PGA TOUR cards, yeah.
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