Rising star Corpuz wins US Open

Hawaiina rising star Allisen Corpuz left the world’s best LPGA women in her wake as she stamped her mark on the world scene with an unrelenting performance to win the Women’s US Open at Pebble Beach in California.

The 78th U.S. Women's Open - Final Round
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: Allisen Corpuz of the United States celebrates with the Harton S. Semple Trophy after winning the 78th U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on July 09, 2023 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

To say it was an upset does not take account of her fourth and 15th at her two previous major starts this year. Plus her 2022 rookie year featured many solid top 30s and top 10 finishes and coming into the US Open 29th in the world meant she was well equipped to be a force.

Her rounds of 69, 70, 71 and 69 always kept her close to or in the lead. Beginning the final round trailing by one shot she took control on the final nine with birdies on 10, 14 and 15 to win by three shots from the fast finishing Charley Hull who had the day’s best round of 66. The challenging Pebble Beach layout caught out many of the world’s top ranked players.

Lydia Ko was never in the hunt after a first round 76, then 71, 74 and 75 to finish 33rd on nine over par, 18 shots adrift of Corpuz. Fellow Kiwi Amelia Garvey found the going tough missing the cut on nine over as did US star Lexi Thompson. World number one Jin Young Ko missed the cut on seven over and Ariya Jutanugarn on 10 over.

An indication of the course difficulty was the number of dropped shots. Corpuz had eight bogeys while second placed Hull had 12. In the final round alone Korda dropped 10 shots against two birdies. Overall Lydia Ko dropped an unheard of 21 shots against her 13 birdies.