Mexico’s Clarisa Temelo set for The Chevron Championship

For about a decade, Clarisa Temelo has placed a special ball marker on the right side of her visor. Whether she’s playing on a golf course in her native Queretaro, Mexico, at the University of Arkansas, throughout the Southeastern Conference or in international competition, you can always spot her beloved green, white and red ball marker.

Temelo left Mexico last fall to pursue her golf and educational career at Arkansas. Although she speaks to her parents often, they’ve not visited her. She has juggled life as a college freshman on her own, seeing her parents only during her visits back home during the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks.

Temelo, one of eight amateurs competing at The Chevron Championship this week, keeps Mexico close to her heart. Temelo has worn the ball marker with Mexico’s tricolor flag as a tribute to her homeland since she was 9 years old.

“I love representing Mexico, saying that, yeah, I’m Mexican,” she says. “I always play with this mark. And yeah I love being like, ‘Hey, yeah, I’m from Mexico.’”

Clarisa Temelo proudly represents Mexico

Although there aren’t many Mexicans in women’s college golf or the LPGA, Temelo follows in the footsteps of some greats. Lorena Ochoa, a native of Guadalajara, won 27 LPGA events. She finished in the Top 10 at 109 LPGA events.

Gaby Lopez, an Arkansas alum who has three LPGA wins on her resume, is one of the top Mexicans in the LPGA. She and Temelo ran into each other on Wednesday at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, the site of The Chevron Championship.

Naturally, they talked about the University of Arkansas and Razorbacks women’s golf coach Shauna Taylor.

“I got a FaceTime call from (Temelo) and Gaby Lopez on the golf course this morning,” Taylor said. “And as their college coach it warms my heart to see how being a Razorback connects our former and current players with moments like that.”

More from Our Esquina

Diana Taurasi was more than GOAT; she was the GLOAT

Carlos Ortiz Wins Houston Open, ends Mexico’s 42-year PGA drought

Hamilton’s Miguel Cervantes Takes His Shot with Golf Tool

Temelo made history in November to earn her spot at The Chevron Championship. She shot 9-under 275 at the Lima Golf Club in Peru to win the 2024 Women’s Amateur Latin America.

Temelo became the first Mexican to win the WALA. The title helped Temelo qualify for an amateur invite to the Chevron Championship and two other LPGA majors.

“Pretty much that tournament is the tournament that has the greatest opportunity for us, for Latin American girls,” she said of the WALA. 

Two more LPGA events on tap

That tournament victory helped Temelo secure an invitation to The Chevron Championship. She has also qualified for two other LPGA major tournaments this season. She’ll return to Arkansas after The Chevron Championship to continue her college season.

“I’m really excited about Clarisa getting the opportunity to play in the Chevron this week,” Taylor said. “It’s a valuable experience and will bode well for her to test her game against the best players in the world.”

The pictures from the Women’s Amateur Latin America show a smiling Temelo wearing a white hat with “MEX” on the front. The “M” is in red, followed by a black “E” and green “X.”

On the side of the cap, you can see the special red, white and green ball marker. Now, Temelo and her ball special marker are set for The Chevron Championship.

“It’s like a dream coming true,” she says of playing in an LPGA tournament. “I have always dreamed about being in the LPGA. It’s literally like my dream, what I want to be. I want to be a golfer. 

“So being able to play here this week and to experience how everything works here, it’s just amazing. I want to make the most of this opportunity.”

_{Temelo appeared on Our Esquina’s Latino Excellence podcast. The episode can be found on Apple , Spotify and YouTube.}