PAJU, South Korea — American LPGA golfer Allisen Corpuz is competing in the BMW Ladies Championship for the second consecutive year, seizing a unique chance to play in the presence of her extended family in South Korea.
Corpuz, who is of Filipino and Korean descent, spoke to Yonhap News Agency after an opening round of three-under 69. "Especially playing in front of my grandma ... this is really the one time they get to watch me play," Corpuz said. The 25-year-old reigning U.S. Women's Open champion has her mother's family, including her grandmother, following her at Seowon Hills at Seowon Valley Country Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.
Corpuz has previously visited her grandmother in the southeastern city of Daegu and also has an aunt residing in Seoul. Winning in Korea would hold a special meaning for her. "It would be really special to have more family out and just to have it in Korea," she added. Corpuz gained her first LPGA victory at the U.S. Women's Open, held at Pebble Beach in California, and feels a surge of confidence from that triumph.