Congratulations to Allisen Corpuz, 2023 U.S. Women’s Open Winner

Americans and most of Hawaii are still celebrating the win of Hawaii’s own Allisen Corpuz at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Allisen, who just turned professional in 2021, is the first American to win the U.S. Open since 2016 when Brittany Lang took the championship.

The global Filipino community is also celebrating. She’s been getting write-ups of her victory from the international Filipino media. Corpuz’ father Marcos is originally from Ilocos Norte and her mother May is of Korean descent.

After winning the U.S. Open, Allisen credited her father for introducing her to the sport. “I started [golf] when I was four, or five years old. My parents actually live on Kapolei golf course — on the left side… So yeah, my dad has always been a really big golf fan and just got us into it really young,” she said.

Allisen is the second U.S. Open winner of Filipino ancestry. In 2021, Filipino-Japanese Yuka Saso won the championship.

Allisen carded a remarkable 3-under par 69 to claim a three-stroke victory at the US Women’s Open. She finished with a total score of 9-under 279 after 72 holes.

Hawaii’s golf pro phenom Michelle Wie (and fellow Punahou alumni, Allisen graduated from Punahou) just announced her retirement from the sport. Wie won the U.S. Open in 2014 and has been an inspiration to many Hawaii youths like Allisen to chase after their dreams in professional sports.

“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.”

Allisen, now, takes on that role to inspire a new generation of Hawaii youths. And it’s not just about sports. It’s about working hard and excelling at whatever you choose to do, that’s the message that role models like Allisen are sending.

Besides golf, Allisen has spent a lot of her young adult life getting a solid education. She got a business degree and an MBA from USC.

We applaud Allisen for the example she is setting. You can chase after your dreams as a professional athlete, but it’s also wise to get a good education. Michelle Wie did the same by graduating from Stanford.

Many young athletes put all their eggs in one basket. Only a few will make it to the pros; and the longevity of many professional sports is very short.

Allisen received $2 million for her U.S. Open victory. It’s likely that endorsements await her. At 25 and only two years into the start of her pro career, Allisen has a bright future. She is the first player in 20 years to win the U.S. Open as her first LPGA victory.

“My mind’s racing… this is really a dream come true and it was something that I’ve dreamed of but at the same time kind of just never really expected to happen so, just trying to take it in and enjoying the moment,” Allisen said.

“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.”

Former President Barack Obama was among the first to congratulate her on Twitter. “You make us all proud — and look forward to a round at Kapolei!.”

Barack, also a Punahou alumni (1979 graduate), became president close to the time that Wie was garnering media attention as a golf prodigy.

Wie and Corpuz are the only golf major champions from Hawaii. The U.S. Open is considered one of the majors in the sport of golf.

Corpuz’s victory is also garnering renewed attention on Punahou school. A CNN lead paragraph in an article to mention Corpuz’s U.S. Open win is as follows: “With alumni spanning the Oval Office, Hollywood, the Olympics, and even outer space, there have been countless landmark days for graduates of Punahou School in Hawaii.”

Further into the article the writer mentions some of Punahou’s star-studded alumni like AOL co-founder Steve Case, eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, actress Kelly Preston, NASA astronaut Charles Veach, and Olympic gold medalist surfer Carissa Moore.

A big congratulations to Allisen Corpuz for winning the U.S. Women’s Open. We join golf enthusiasts, the rest of Hawaii and our nation in congratulating you on your historic win. We’ll be watching you as your professional golf career evolves.

Also, mahalo to Michelle Wie for being an inspiration to many of Hawaii’s youth. We wish you the best in your retirement.