Ochoa: Kindness personified

It has been two weeks since former number one of the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Lorena Ochoa of Mexico set foot at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club (WWGCC). But it’s never too late to write about her visit and her endearing qualities which make her perfect for charitable causes and kids’ golf.

The 5’6” native of Guadalajara arrived to help raise funds for the fast-expanding Everest Academy, the country’s only international Catholic school at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Ochoa, who retired in 2010 at the age of 28, after an eight-year highly successful career as a golfing pro, is an alumna of Everest in Mexico. It was therefore no surprise that she accepted the invitation of Everest Manila, whose executive director is a Mexican, Beatriz Rivera. 

Everest Manila has a middle school, grades six to eight, and prepares its students for high school. It has a current enrollment of about 300. Everest’s curriculum worldwide was developed by the Legionnaires of Christ, a priestly congregation whose charism it shares with the Regnum Christi Movement.

With ICTSI, through sportsman and philanthropist Ricky Razon, providing substantial support to ensure Ochoa’s and her entourage’s (that included, among others, her brother, Alejandro, and father) presence in the Philippines. Ochoa made her appearance at WWGCC’s west course at a fund-raising golf tournament. The tournament had more than 140 golfers contributing various amounts in support of Everest’s objectives and the privilege of meeting Ochoa, posing with her and having various golf paraphernalia, including golf carts, autographed by her.

Prior to making her appearance at WWGCC, Ochoa played golf with Razon at the latter’s exclusive The Country Club. Razon, a single-digit handicap player, had long observed the career of the Mexican who is considered the best Mexican golfer of all time. She’s the only Mexican golfer of either gender to have made it to number one in the world.

At WWGCC, Ochoa hit the ceremonial tee and we were fortunate to have been part of the tee off ceremonies and thank the Lord that we had a fairly decent drive off WWGCC’s first hole of the West course. Right after the ceremonies, we gave Ochoa two books on the late Pres. Corazon Aquino that my wife, Margie, put together in the democracy icon’s honor – “Cory: An Intimate Portrait I”; and “Cory: an Intimate Portrait, Tributes and Eulogies.”

Later, Ochoa would tell one of the tournament organizers, Anthony Nazareno, that she appreciated our gesture. Nazareno’s story reminded me of a statement made by another golf legend, Nancy Lopez, who was quoted in the “Lorena Ochoa Career Biography: “When you meet her for the second time and she remembers not only your name, but also the slightest detail from the last time you spoke.”

As we were about to putt in the 14th green, Ochoa arrived in a golf cart together with Rivera to join us and our caddies for the photo-ops and to autograph golf caps and t-shirts.

Ochoa and her party momentarily left WWGCC to proceed to Everest where she spoke before the students and exhorted them to take their studies seriously and be conscientious with their school work. After the quick visit to Everest, Ochoa made her way back to WWGCC for the awarding ceremonies over lunch. Awards were given to all participants including kids, for whom Ochoa has a soft spot.

Ochoa, who married in 2009, Aeromexico CEO, Andres Conesa and with whom she has two children, made special mention of young golfers in her brief remarks. Her advocacy for children’s welfare is exemplified by her establishing the Lorena Ochoa Foundation that operates a primary school for 250 underprivileged children in Guadalajara. In its expansion stage, the primary school, called La Barranca, will eventually accept high school students.

Prior to her retirement, Ochoa was the top-ranked female golfer for three years – from 2007 to 2010. Various reports state that she took up golf at five and had for his first coach, professional Rafael Alarcon (who is her partner in the Ochoa Golf Academies). In 2000, Ochoa accepted a golf scholarship at the University of Arizona. At Arizona, Ochoa was able to combine a successful career in collegiate golf while practicing her English which she was determined to learn by watching movies and reading periodicals.

In 2007, Ochoa took over the number one ranking in ladies golf from Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam. She won her first major in the Women’s British Open which was followed in 2008 by another major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship. In 2007, reports state that Ochoa became the first woman to earn more than US$4 million in a single season.

The real person of Ochoa will most not likely be captured by the outstanding statistics and career victories. One has to encounter her close up, face to face, to feel her kindness and approachability and her genuine fondness for people, especially the youth.

Though brief, Ochoa’s visit reinforced what others in the golfing community had said of her: a humble person with kindness jumping out of her person.