LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

Hoakalei Country Club

Allisen Corpuz

Press Conference


Q. All right, Allisen, round of 72; you survived; easily making the cut. How do you feel right now?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I mean, it was playing really tough out there, but I'm really proud of how I played today. Hot some really good shots and I'm really excited for the weekend.

Q. How was the wind and the conditions today? I know the wind got up more this afternoon than it did yesterday.

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, and then the greens firmed up a little bit as they dried out, so definitely playing really tough.

Even the shorter holes that were a little downwind was still really tough to hold the greens. There were a couple of opportunities out there.

Q. What were some of those opportunities for you?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I hit a couple of really good shots. I birdied No. 3 and then I also picked up one at 18 and No. 5.

So, yeah, just had some good looks for birdies there and was able to convert.

Q. When you started your goals for this year, where was playing well here and making the cut here?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I'm really just trying to make the cut every event that I play in, and this one is definitely really special to be able to make the cut at home.

So it means a lot that I'll being playing the weekend this year.

Q. Now as you turn your attention to the next two rounds, what are some things you want to improve on and keep consistent with things you've done well so far?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I think managing the wind was really tough today. Hoping it's not as windy over the weekend. There were a couple decisions I wish I could go back and make again, overall but played really solid, so hoping to keep that going on into the weekend.

Q. Two rounds at Hoakalei. First time this tournament has been here. Has the course overall met what you expected coming in?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I've been out here and played a couple of times before the event, and it's always in such great shape. I'm really impressed with how the course has held up this week.

It's been playing really challenging but also pretty fair, I think. Yeah, I'm really excited to be here.

Q. What's it been like to go from, like you said, coming out here as a kid and then watching Megan playing here as an amateur, and now being a pro here and making the cut here, what's that journey been like for you?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: It's been really special seeing how my game has improved over the years and really being able to say like before -- I mean, I missed the cut when I was in high school and just knowing that my game is in a good spot and I'm hopefully only going to go up from here.

Q. On 4 you almost stuck it really close; almost looked like it was going to be an ace there. Didn't go in for the birdie, but that whole stretch there you really carried some momentum, and yesterday, too. Is that a spot on the course that you feel like fits your game the best?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I mean, 3 is a short par-4 and you have a wedge in, and I think that's definitely an opportunity that you need to take.

4, the tee shot just really suits my eye, I think. I've hit two really good tee shots on that hole.

Then 5 is a par-5.

I think that it's definitely a stretch that's really gettable.

Q. The time that you were a senior playing the LOTTE, what areas of your game have advanced the most through college?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think overall going to college really helped with course management and just knowing like on a day like today when it's so windy, just being patient and hoping the opportunities will come, just really trying to make par and hopefully a couple birdies go in.

I think that was a really big game changer for me. And just being able to tighten every aspect of my game all the way from ball striking to the putter.

Q. You qualified for your first USGA event when you were just a kid, you were ten. You were a stalwart of Hawaiian junior golf, Mary Bea and AJGA. What does it mean to now - you started so young - to finally have made it here to the LPGA and playing as a pro?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, it feels like it's been a long time coming, but at the same time I felt ready when I turned two, and it's just really nice to be able to capitalize on the opportunity.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
119580-1-1041 2022-04-15 05:16:00 GMT

ASAP sports

tech 129