Corpuz youngest in Publinx
Advertiser Staff
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Move over, Michelle. Allisen Corpuz, who turned 10 in March, is now the youngest golfer to qualify for the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links.
Corpuz finished second to Cyd Okino, all of 14, at the Kaua'i qualifier last month. When Okino won Monday's sectional to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open, she was given automatic exemptions into this summer's major USGA events.
That freed a spot for Corpuz, who just finished fourth grade at Punahou, and erased one of Michelle Wie's USGA records. The Punahou graduate, now an 18-year-old Stanford freshman, was previously the youngest to qualify — at 10 years, 7 months in 2000. Three years later, Wie won the event and remains the youngest ever to win an "adult" USGA championship.
Corpuz won last year's U.S. Kids World Championship 9-year-old division, along with its long-drive contest. She also captured the 2007 Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association 10-under championship by 16 shots.
The 32nd annual WAPL starts Monday at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. Along with Okino and Corpuz, Hawai'i representatives will be Kristina Merkle, Xyra Suyetsugu, Kelcie Kawano, Kellie Nakashima and Stephanie Kono, who earned an exemption by reaching the quarterfinals of last year's WAPL and U.S. Junior Girls. Former Hilo resident Kimberly Kim is also exempt.