Ben Madilynn
Allisen Corporationuz won the US Women’s Open in a historic moment in women’s sport. The event was held at the world-famous Pebble Beach. Corpuz’s incredible performance secured her first LPGA championship and etched her name into golfing history. Corpuz, despite facing a very competitive field, showed her mental toughness as well as her outstanding skills throughout the event.
The victory of Corpuz at Pebble Beach is a major milestone in her career. She was able to navigate this demanding and challenging course using her impeccable technique, shot-making skills, and course management. Corpuz’s win is a symbol of the progress made by women in professional golf. It also serves as inspiration to young golfers around the world. Corpuz’s triumph will be remembered as a historic moment, not just for her, but for the entire community of golfers, since the US Women’s Open will forever be remembered as an event which saw the rise of future golfing stars.
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Allisen Corpuz found herself on the biggest and most beautiful stage in women’s golf and made it look like a stroll on the beach.
It didn’t matter that she’d won nothing on the LPGA Tour and that all week she’d heard about the historic first U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. Nothing could get her to break.
“Every few holes I kind of looked out and said, ‘I’m here at Pebble Beach. There’s not many places that are better than this,'” Corpuz said.
It was hard to find a better performance. Corpuz won the U.S. Women’s Open by three shots after a close duel against Nasa Hataoka.
At Pebble Beach, no less.
No matter what the situation or shot, the 25-year old Hawaiian woman was calm and collected, but reality hit when she gained a 3-shot lead on the 18th hole. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have all walked this path at Pebble Beach, as well as Tom Watson.
“Just knowing the history … Tiger just absolutely annihilated this place. Yeah, it’s really special,” Corpuz said. “Twenty, 30 years from now, I think just the fact that it’s a U.S. Open means a lot to me. But know that it’s at Pebble makes it even sweeter.”
She claimed the prize of $2 million, the highest ever paid to an LPGA major winner.
Corpuz was unable to contain her wide smile as she reached for the par. As tears started to fall, she covered it up with her hand. She wiped her tears with the tower in Aloha print.
Former President Barack Obama is among the first to congratulate her On Twitter. Both went to Punahou School.
“Unreal,” Corpuz said. “This week has felt like a dream come true.”
Hilary Lunke won her first U.S. Women’s Open title in 2003, at Pumpkin Ridge. It was a three-way Sunday playoff.
Corpuz finished the four-day tournament with a score of 9-under-279. He was the lone player to have a par score on all days.
Corpuz was a tyrant who never gave anyone a chance. Hataoka, 24, lost her lead by one shot on the opening hole after Corpuz birdied her approach at 5 feet.
At the turn, they were all tied until Corpuz made a birdie shot on the 10th. Corpuz’s par-three 12th hole was the key moment. She missed the bunker, and only had 15 feet left for par. Hataoka’s birdie putt was rolled from the fringe, 5 feet away from the hole. Hataoka missed his putt after Corpuz had made par. The lead was now two.
Corpuz extended it by four shots, with excellent wedges up to 8 feet at the par-5 14th hole and 4 feet at the 15th. Both birdies made the battle for second place in the final act.
Hull, who began the final round seven strokes behind, closed the gap to two shots on the back nine. She stayed in contention with a birdie putt from 30 feet on the 16th. Later, she realized Corpuz had pulled away. Hull continued to fire, and hit a 3-wood under the cypress in the middle 18th fairway. She nearly pulled it off.
“Shy kids don’t get sweets,” On the 18th she told herself before she whipped away and dropped to her knees to watch its flight.
Shin birdied the 18th hole to join Hull in runner-up position. She never really had a chance to win but celebrated an important moment for Corpuz, and women’s sport in general.
“I’m only watching the TV to Pebble Beach and then finally we are here to play,” Shin said. “This course has a great history, and then finally the women’s history is in.”
Corpuz is the one who made history. She joined Michelle Wie West as the only major champions from Hawaii — Wie West won the Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. In 2014, she played in her final major at Pebble Beach.
They are linked by the Aloha State, their high school (Punahou) and their emphasis on education — Wie West graduated from Stanford, Corpuz got a business degree and an MBA from USC — and their early start in USGA events. Corpuz surpassed Wie West’s 10-year-old record for qualifying as the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links.
“I never really thought I’d get this far. Just watching Michelle, she’s been such a huge role model to me, and it was really awesome to break her record for the Public Links,” Corpuz said. “But I’ve never really compared myself to her. I’ve always wanted to make my own name. She’s just served as a really big inspiration.”
Corpuz competed in her nineteenth USGA championship. She has a lot of patience and knows how to use the USGA formula for fairways and greens. She is built to do this, given that her concentration was so intense that not even the most beautiful day in Monterey Peninsula would crack it.
Mary Bea Porter King is the pioneer in Hawaii of junior golf and a major influence in the sport. Corpuz was 7 years old when he first joined the Hawaii Junior Program.
“She’s always been calm, cool and … I won’t say serious, but she just plodded along. She was sort of a giant killer,” Porter King said. “I don’t think she was fearful of anything.”
Pebble Beach had enough wind for it to be as challenging and difficult as ever. Seven players only finished below par.
Hataoka shot a 66 on the Saturday, nearly nine shots higher than the rest of the field. On the back-nine, she shot a 40 and was tied with Bailey Tardy for fourth, who had led after 36 holes, going 75-73 for the weekend to record her best result in her LPGA rookie year.
Rose Zhang, who won her first LPGA Tour appearance as a professional after dominating the amateur circuit, was never able to get on track. She finished with a 72 and tied for ninth. She now has both top 10s and majors as a professional, though she wasn’t in contention this time.
