It took me awhile to write this column, as I have a soft spot for Tet and her daughter, Reg De Guzman.
When I found out that Reg made it to the LPGA tour, I could not help but recall what they both went through.
We go a long way back, from when I had a caddy training program based in Calatagan and Reg would spend days training there.
Reg did not belong to any of the exclusive clubs, yet through the kindness of Camp Aguinaldo, Southwoods and Canlubang, she was able to play at these different courses for free. Her private lessons with Abe Rosal were also gratis.
These were the individuals who like myself believed Reg had tremendous natural talent. At the same time, though, she was very rebellious against the norms of society.
However, despite having these odds against her, as well as a slight learning disability, she was able get into San Jose State University in the United States. And through the help of her coach Dana Dormann, she was actually able to graduate and polish her golf abilities.
It has been said that for a person to succeed in life, it is enough that she has at least one person who truly believes that she is capable of being the best she wants to be. In Reg’s case, that person is her mom Tet.
It took Tet’s selling of some of her personal belongings and forgoing certain luxuries in life to finance her daughter’s bid to get into the LPGA qualifying school. Through Tet’s patience, perseverance and resolve, which went beyond human bounds, Reg’s dream has now become a reality.
As of now, however, they do not have enough funds to finance the first few legs that will be held in Florida, as Reg is based in the West Coast.
Reg’s ambition now is to get into the Olympic Games.
It may be a good time for our golfing community to look into extending them a helping hand in order to fulfill Reg’s dream for the country.