Corpuz US open queen

MANILA, Philippines — Another golfer with Filipino blood was crowned queen of the US Women’s Open.

American Allisen Corpuz, whose father, Marcos, is Filipino, matched the 2021 feat of Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso and hoisted the coveted Harton S. Semple Trophy following her three-shot triumph at the Pebble Beach Golf Links Sunday.

Corpuz, based in Hawaii, fired a closing three-under 69 to finish at nine-under 279 and beat the 282s of English Charley Hull (66) and South Korean Shin Ji-yai (68) for her first major title worth a whopping $2 million.

The 25-year-old Corpuz, whose father is from Ilocos Norte and mother, May, has Korean roots, basked in glory two years after Saso, then representing the Philippines, reigned supreme in dramatic fashion over at the Olympic Club.

Saso finished at joint 20th this time after shooting a 71 in the final round and assembling a five-over card of 293 overall. The Tokyo Olympics veteran banked $106,269 (P5.9 million) for this placing.

Dottie Ardina of the Philippines limped home with a second straight 77 to tally 299 in the final scorecard, good for a share of 53rd and $24,562 (P1.37 million).

“Unreal. This week has just felt like a dream come true,” said Corpuz. “It has been just awesome to be out at Pebble this week.”

Corpuz credited her father for introducing her and her sibling to golf at the age of four.

“My dad’s always been really a big golf fan (and) just got us into it really young,” said the golfer, who enjoys the famous Filipino dish adobo on visits to her grandparents’ place.

Corpuz’ grandparents migrated to the US and moved to Hawaii when her father was only eight years old.

Former President Barack Obama was among the first to congratulate Corpuz on Twitter. Both went to Punahou School in Honolulu.