By
Brian Penso
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Ochoa closer to fulfilling lifelong dream of being nation's best golfer
If dedication, motivation, mental toughness and enjoyment of the pure joy of the game are what it takes to be a successful golfer, UA freshman Lorena Ochoa is definitely in good shape.
Last weekend, Ochoa won her first college tournament at the Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque.
She won the tournament by seven strokes and broke the course record for the lowest 54-hole total by any women's collegiate golfer.
"She has tremendous length," UA head coach Greg Allen said. "She also has a great putter and her short game is tremendous."
As a result of her dominance at the Dick McGuire Invitational, Ochoa was named NCAA Golfer of the Week by Golf World Magazine.
For Ochoa, simply making it to the Division I level has been an accomplishment.
The freshman was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, a city with a population of around eight million and just seven golf courses, all of which are private.
One of those courses was nestled just beyond Ochoa's childhood home. As a member of the local country club, Ochoa started playing golf at around the age of five.
Ochoa's family all played golf for fun. One day she followed them around the course - the rest, as they say, is history.
Just a child, Ochoa fell immediately in love with the game, and convinced her parents to pay for lessons.
"Golf is my life," Ochoa said. "My lifelong dream has been to become a pro golfer and to compete in the U.S. Open Women's Championship."
As a youngster, Ochoa became involved in junior golf and proved that she was much more talented then her fellow Mexican women.
By the time she was old enough to go away to college, the freshman had captured eight Junior Mexican National Championships and two Mexican Amateur Championships.
A key to her success at such a young age has been Ochoa's conditioning program which, growing up, included a day filled with running, swimming and playing golf. She also played basketball three to four times a week.
Of all sports, however, Ochoa gravitated toward golf.
"Golf takes a lot of mental strength as well as physical shape," Ochoa said. "Due to my conditioning, I can handle playing for long periods of time, which improves my mental strength as well."
While Ochoa's high school did not have a golf team, the freshman continued to find opportunities to compete in numerous solo events.
She also dominated in these events, as she is a five time Junior World Champion and a three time American Cup Champion.
All of these personal accomplishments made her one of golf's most recruited players a year ago.
"All of her international experience makes her more than a freshman," junior Cristina Baena said. "She is just a great player, with a lot of experience. That makes her very valuable to our team."
Her decision to come to Arizona was a result of the continued success and dominance the women's golf program.
"I wanted to come and play for the best program," Ochoa said. "Also the weather and courses here are great, which will allow me to become a better golfer."
Besides immense talent, Allen feels Ochoa has the upper hand on other golfers due to her competitive nature.
"She is as talented as any of the best golfers, but she hates to lose," Allen said. "She plays so hard from start to finish."
Being on the golf course allows Ochoa to find a sense of solace and tranquillity.
"I never think about anything when I golf except for having fun and doing my best," Ochoa said.
By the end of her four years at Arizona, Ochoa wants to be the nation's best player, on the best team.
"Like anyone else, I want to be the best," Ochoa said. "Hopefully, by the time I graduate, I will win as many tournaments as possible."
Golf isn't likely stop after college either, as Ochoa hopes to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a professional golfer.
Over the summer, part of her dream was fulfilled when she qualified as an amateur for the Women's U.S. Open. She became the first Mexican woman golfer to qualify for the Women's U.S. Open.
Besides playing professional golf, Ochoa wants to help improve golf conditions in Mexico so Mexican girls can have an opportunity to compete in the game she loves.
"The few people that do golf in Mexico are men, and I want to do something that will expose more girls to golf so they can have the opportunity to play it,"Ochoa said.
If Ochoa continues her success, her lifelong dream of being a pro golfer should soon be a reality.
"She is just a great golfer," Allen said. "You watch her and you know she is something special."
