Local golfer Danny Ochoa bounces back from serious injury to take fifth at 2010 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships

By Karen Billing

Torrey Pines High School golfer Danny Ochoa took fifth place at the 2010 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, held July 12-16 at Torrey Pines South Course. Danny shot a 76, 71, 71 and 73 and, at 15 years old, was the youngest player in the 15-17 field. Only one other U.S. player placed higher.

Golfer Danny Ochoa receiving his fifth place award at the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships.

The accomplishment was particularly sweet for Danny as he was playing with a left arm that had to be completely rebuilt last November after he broke it in a motocross accident. Danny, who has two 9-inch titanium rods in his arm, said Callaway was the best tournament he's ever played in, as well as the most competitive. He was paired with second-place finisher Jorge Fernandez Valdes of Argentina, who was leading all four days until his last hole. Danny kept right up with Valdes, matching him "stroke for stroke," dad Donald Ochoa said.
"He was playing with the best players in the world," Donald said. "For him to come back from an injury like this made my day. We're just so proud of him."
Danny was supported by a large following at the tournament of friends and family, some even flying in from Sacramento on the last day when he was in the leader group. Despite the large gallery of fans and coaches watching him play, Danny said the key to his game is keeping cool, calm and confident.
"I have good composure on the course, I don't get mad," Danny said. "Even if I make a bogey I know I'll come back with a birdie."
The fifth place finish means Danny has "fully exempt" status on all American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Open events—he is qualified for any tournament he wants to play, a coveted prize as AJGA events are very hard to get into, he said.
Finishing as high as he did was a rewarding payoff for all the work put in after last year's accident when Danny thought he would never play golf the same way again.
"It was horrifying," said Donald, who was riding on the Pala Raceway in Temecula behind Danny when it happened. He saw his son's arm snapped in half and a first responder thought he had even broken his back.
"The paramedic pulled me aside and told me I needed to prepare for the worst," Donald said.
Dr. Harish Hosalkar, the orthopedic surgeon who rebuilt Danny's arm, had predicted Danny would be out of golf for a year—devastating news for a kid who thrived on perfecting his game. Danny was vigilant about rehabbing his injury, doing physical therapy for two months and relearning how to swing with less power in his left arm. He played his first tournament back in a Scholastic Junior event, 36 holes in one day that "tore his arm up."
He said he did not play well at all that day, but it was important for him to get back on the course and fight. It has gone well since and the Junior Worlds success was especially encouraging. The titanium rods are scheduled to come out in September. The offending dirt bike has since been sold.
"As bad as it could've been, we consider ourselves very lucky," Donald said. While Danny enjoys surfing and video games, his first love is golf—he's been a golfer since age 3 when his clubs were plastic and had Snoopy on them. His dad, Donald, often took him along with him to golf at La Costa and Aviara, and Danny soon got hooked.
"I think what sparked [my passion for golf] was the hole-in-one I hit when I was 9 and one when I was 10," Danny said. "I just wanted to stick with it and see what could happen."
For the last two years he's been paired up with coach Kip Putterbaugh, a coach he said has done wonders for his swing. He plays with the AJGA as well as the San Diego Junior Golf Association and as a sophomore on the Torrey Pines High School golf team, one of the best teams in the state and possibly the country, he said.
Danny’s many golf accomplishments include a third place finish at the 2009 U.S. Kids Teen World Championships at Pinehurst, NC, and winning the 2009 San Diego Junior Masters (13-14 years) at Carlton Oaks, Calif.
Danny names The Bridges and Aviara as his favorite courses although he has played all over, from a course in golf's birthplace of Scotland to Pebble Beach with his dad for Father's Day. A humble son, he courteously says he can only beat his dad now because an injury has slowed his dad’s game.
"Oh he passed me up three years ago," dad admits.