BY FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ
Seven teenage golfers from 10 to 16 years old have qualified to represent Southern Baja California in one of the most prestigious golf competitions in Mexico at the Lorena Ochoa National Tournament. It took place in Mazatlán, Sinaloa from April 20 to April 26. This tournament was the highlight of their young lives.
Those earning their spot in the tournament in the Boys category 14-15 years old were André Vargas and Elvis Barajas. The younger Boys group of 12–13-year-olds was Mikel Ontañon and in the category of those 7 years old and under was Santiago Rosales.
The Girls 16-18 group includes Miren Ontañon, Triana Rodríguez from the Girls group of 10–11-year-olds and Sofía Chávez from the Girls aged 7 and under bracket.
The Lorena Ochoa National Tournament is a great opportunity for golfers from all over the country to showcase their talent and compete on one of the most prestigious courses in Mexico. In addition, the participation of athletes from Southern Baja in this tournament helps promote the development of golf in the region and also seeks to increase the visibility of local athletes in this sport.
In 1990, legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus helped create the golfing boom that Los Cabos currently enjoys. Jack’s great course designs at Palmilla and Cabo del Sol and years later El Dorado not only led other well-known golfers to join in the creation of other beautifully crafted layouts, but also showcased the Southern Baja California region’s perfect climate and wonderful landscape for the spectacular game of golf.
Greg Norman, Gary Player, Tom Weiskopf, and Davis Love III were the next prominent golf pros to arrive in Los Cabos and attach their names to courses of their distinct design. Of the three local courses that have been recognized among the world’s Top 100 Golf Courses, two of them, Cabo del Sol’s Ocean Course, and Palmilla are of Nicklaus design.
In case anyone didn’t know, Tiger Woods started golfing from the time he could walk and appeared on the Johnny Carson show with his father as a 4-year-old golf prodigy. Maybe from Cabo, another great champion will also rise to fortune and fame.
