Q. What a win today.
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah.
Q. You know, to knock off the co-medalist.
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah.
Q. You're 2047th in the world and here you are in the quarterfinals.
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, it was a ride, man. I'm super tired. Kind of emotional. Actually the putt on 16, wasn't really expecting to make that. I guess that kind of restored all the confidence I had back in myself. Yeah, been a wild ride to this point.
Q. Playing 16, was that a par putt or birdie putt?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, it was like a 40-, footer50-footer for par.
Q. Wow.
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Had like a (indiscernible) in the rough for two shots and just made like a double breaker, center cup. Didn't really expect it to go in. That was crazy.
Q. When a putt like that goes in, does it maybe feel like maybe it's my day?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, I mean, at that point I don't really have any other words for that. I mean, there is nothing else to explain. It's just your day at that point.
Everything is going in. So, yes, sir.
Q. You're 18, correct?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yes, sir.
Q. So make the quarterfinals you get exempt for next year, but you aged out.
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, unfortunately.
Q. Were you late to get into the field?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, it was super weird. I got an alternate spot in my qualifier. Had something weird with the exempt list. Then I got a call two days later saying I had -- a spot had opened up in the championship.
So pretty special from that point on. It's been weird.
Q. So you didn't even know you were going to be playing here?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: No, not officially, no, sir.
Q. So when you're a first alternate, what are your kind of emotions?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, just depends on the year. Sometimes alternates get in; sometimes they don't. To be honest, I just expected to come to a 50/50 chance, and then especially after stroke play I was like, it's going to take a little bit to get to match play.
Q. Was your brother in before you then?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, he was actually the medalist at our qualifier, however this works.
Q. He's not caddieing for you?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Oh, he is, yeah. Yes, sir.
Q. When did he pick up the bag then?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: He picked it up first day of match play.
Q. Once he was eliminated?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: He missed the cut for match play unfortunately, and then I asked him to hop on the bag and it's been pretty good so far.
Q. How much does it help to have somebody around that knows your game so well? Does it bring you an extra level of confidence?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. We play golf together every day so he sees the shots I hit and the lines I take. He's actually caddied for me two times before this year. We're 2-0, medalist local U.S. Am. So the vibes are there and they're certainly there this week again.
Q. Did you qualify for the U.S. Am?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: I got past local medalist there but I missed final.
Q. He caddied for you at the local?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: He did, yes, sir.
Q. Okay. Long day today. How are you feeling? You possibly got two more rounds tomorrow.
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, I got some rest to do. Definitely got to get some calories in me, stay hydrated. I think I'm just kind of tired from the sun, being in the sun all day. Body feels okay. Just kind of drained at the moment. Yes, sir.
Q. Is this your best finish, best result in a big time event or have you had some others?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, I've had some good finishes the last two years. I won an AJGA earlier this year. Actually lost in a playoff in an Invitational in May. I got third at another match play event up at Bethpage earlier.
Q. So that helps.
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: I think that helped for this, just kind of similar course and everything. But as far as USGA event goes, yeah, so far this is my best finish.
Q. Have you ever played one before?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: I played the Junior at Trinity Forest last year, but I missed the cut.
Q. You missed the cut.
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, unfortunately.
Q. So this is a little better result. A little different player from 17, 18?
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: I would say so. I kind of matured just in my overall game I would say. Not just one area. I've matured as a player, as a competitor, and learned that it's never over until it's over, especially in match play.
So I've just had that mindset just throughout the matches I played.
Q. You like to be the underdog or kind of a guy that maybe nobody realizes is this good when you're 2047 in the world and sneak into match play? I think you struggled in the first round, too.
NOAH MACLAUCHLAN: Yeah, yeah, I think when you come into this field, obviously with Miles and a couple other kids, I'm definitely the underdog. But that doesn't really stop me from knowing when I'm playing my best I can beat anyone.
I just got to continue to keep the pedal down and hopefully it takes care of the rest.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports