Hawaii native Allisen Corpuz is a quiet person, but her golf game does all the talking for her. The former University of Southern California Trojan made some noise on the final day of week one of LPGA Q-Series, shooting a bogey-free, 7-under 65 to sit in a tie for eighth through four rounds. With 72 holes to go in Lower Alabama, there are plenty of positives from her play at Magnolia Grove that Corpuz will carry forward to next week in Dothan. Considering she has experience playing marathon golf and her former collegiate assistant Stewart Burke on the bag, you can be sure Corpuz will take the pressure of earning her LPGA Tour card in stride.
“I came into the day trying to shoot a couple under to make sure I'm for sure in next week, and I got some really good looks out there and made some really good putts,” said Corpuz. “It kind of felt like every round there were a couple of shots that definitely could have been better. These courses are just so tough. It's so easy to be playing okay and then hit a road bump. It was really just trying to stay focused, just keep taking good swings at it and it'll work itself out.”
Proving even more useful than a familiar looper are the two National Women’s Golf Association events Corpuz teed it up in to prepare for Q-Series, winning the first at Magnolia Grove and finishing in a tie for second at Highland Oaks.
“I played a couple of the prep events the NWGA hosted both here and at next week's course, so got to see the courses for a little bit and get a little more comfortable out here,” she said. “I think it helps a lot because no matter how small the tournament or how big the tournament is, courses do play differently under pressure and even just knowing it's a tournament, as well as playing with other good players. Seeing how they play the course and having the extra rounds definitely helped.”
Corpuz is no stranger to the big stage. She became the youngest competitor in USGA history in 2008 when she teed it up in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links at just 10 years old and was a key member of this year’s winning United States Curtis Cup team. She’s also played in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and for plenty of National Championship titles. But week two at Highland Oaks Golf Club will be a different kind of stress for Corpuz with a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream on the line. She’s just focused on commitment, trusting herself and her game to show up when it matters most.
“I've never completely finished a 65 out, just kind of bogeyed the last hole coming in, so I was like, ‘Get it done today.’ It was nice to get that just set. The first three days, I hit some really good putts, hit some really solid shots. So trying to keep committing to my shots next week. I think we're going to head over (to Dothan) tonight and then maybe play nine Tuesday and 18 Wednesday or something like that depending on the weather. Heard it doesn't look too great. just do a little bit of prep but not overdo it.”
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