When Allisen Corpuz captured the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, it was special. She became the first American in 20 years to win this tournament as her first LPGA title. She was also the second Hawaiian to lift the trophy, joining Michelle Wie West in 2014. The golf world erupted in joy, and so did Barack Obama. After all, it was his University of Columbia alumnus who had won.

“Congratulations to fellow Hawaiian Allisen Corpuz for winning the U.S. Women’s Open,” he wrote. “You make us all proud and look forward to a round at Kapolei!” It turns out, Corpuz is still waiting for these 18 holes at Kapolei. Chasing her second victory of her LPGA career at the Lotte Championship, she candidly joked about it.

“Like you said, I’m not the most famous alum,” she joked. “But we (President Obama and she) haven’t teed it up yet. So I’d like to get that chance—just putting that out there,” she said.

Obama graduated from Columbia University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He also loves to play golf. According to the records, he has played 333 rounds during his eight years as president. He even surprised the American squad in Virginia last year during the Solheim Cup on the first day of the competition.

Corpuz is adamant about adding that second win. At Hoakalei Country Club, having shot 68 and 69 on the first two days, she sits at a solid T12.

“I felt like I played pretty solid through the front nine—just couldn’t get any putts to drop,” she said. “I made three longer ones in a row on 14, 15, 16, and got lucky with the chip-in on 18 as well. Really excited heading into tomorrow.”

Coming to the tournament for the first time since missing the cut in 2023, she came in with motivation.

“It’s definitely something I look back on and just try to emulate what I did that week and what I was thinking, what I was doing to prepare for tournaments. I go back to that performance a lot and just use it as a way to get better. It’s really awesome to just have people, even two years later, come up to me and say congratulations. It’s been the most fun to be able to share the win with family and friends, fans. That’s been really special to me,” she said at Monday’s Lotte pre-tournament press conference.

This is just the start; she has plenty more to say about her season.

LPGA star reflects on her season

This season has been a grind for Corpuz, with only two top-10 finishes so far. Her last big showing came in March, a third-place at the Ford Championship, while she tied for seventh a month earlier in Thailand. Now, she’s focused on solidifying her spot inside the top 60 of the Race to CME Globe, where she currently sits at No. 49. But the LOTTE Championship offers a familiar advantage.

“I definitely think this is a ball-strikers’ course,” she said. “Growing up in the wind and being more familiar with how the ball reacts is always an advantage.” Corpuz used her local knowledge to shine through windy conditions, keeping herself close to Akie Iwai’s lead. And she’s been refining her gameplay in recent months.

“It’s felt like my game has been coming around. I played really solid on the front, then got on a bit of a run on the back nine,” stated Corpuz. While thinking about the bigger picture for Hawaiian golf, her focus remains clear: win the LOTTE Championship, the event that matters most at home.