Athlete of the Week: Tommy Ochoa

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — In his heyday, Albert Ochoa went on to play golf at Texas Christian University. Albert's son, Tommy Ochoa, is now taking the reins, but is still learning from his father.

“My dad's kind of like the best coach, or he's like the best coach for me. We have a good connection, and he knows a lot about the game, so it makes sense for me to play,” said Tommy Ochoa, McAllen Memorial Junior Golfer.

The connection between father and son is made stronger through the love each has for the sport of golf.

“Yeah, I think it's a special bond that we have,” said Tommy. “We do a lot of stuff together. We drive to tournaments together that are five to six hours away. So we get to talk, listen to music together, everything.”

Albert had given up golf but returned because of his son. He now gets a firsthand view of Tommy chasing his dream.

“It's been a great experience to watch him grow, not only physically but mentally and emotionally,” said Albert Ochoa, Tommy’s Father. “And I get to see the way he's learning the way he speaks.”

Tommy started pursuing his dream of playing golf during seventh grade. He will be a junior in high school this year and says he remembers those early struggles.

“My very first tournament, I would get second to dead last, because everyone had already been playing for a couple of years, so it was hard to adjust to everyone else's skill level,” said Tommy Ochoa.

Under his father’s tutelage, Tommy’s goal is to one day be a college golfer, like his dad.