Now, here’s the part where Ana decided she no longer liked golf. She started swimming and taking tennis lessons, quickly becoming skilled enough to play and win most of her tennis matches. However, after a while, much to her coach’s dismay, she lost interest in tennis. She had another sport in mind: gymnastics. As a young girl, Ana had friends who did gymnastics and would bring back medals and trophies from competitions. She wanted to do gymnastics too. After years of asking, her wish was finally granted. Gymnastics became her passion, and it was all she could think about. She practiced diligently at the gym and at home, eager to advance to the next level, and she progressed rapidly. However, her gymnastics journey came to an end after only two years due to the pandemic, after which she moved to Florida.

Moving to Florida

In the summer of 2020, Ana moved to Florida and ended up living near a golf course. Her dad asked if she wanted to give golf another try, and although she was unsure, she reluctantly said yes. At 12 years old, she was new to the game but had the confidence of someone who had been playing for years. However, she soon realized that she hadn’t evolved with the game since she hadn’t stayed involved in golf throughout her younger years. Disappointed but not discouraged, Ana was determined to improve as quickly as possible, although she wasn’t sure what it would take. By age 13, she realized that her progress was slow and that reaching the level she aspired to would require a higher level of commitment, and determination. She set a goal, and her journey began. Her work ethic skyrocketed as she put in long hours each day, becoming deeply passionate about the game and focused on reaching a much higher level. She dreamed of one day playing on the LPGA and even representing the USA in the Olympics. With substantial help from her coach, Bob Lohr, and her dad, she started winning US Kids Local tournaments. At 14, she won her first FJT event, and by 15, she had claimed victory in the FSGA Junior Match Play Tournament. By the end of 2023, she had achieved 17 top 10 finishes, 10 top 5 finishes, and 2 wins.

While 2024 has brought its share of highs and lows, Ana achieved a significant milestone by earning medalist honors in stroke play at the FSGA Junior Match Play (with scores of 69-68), where she also finished as the tournament runner-up. Her first win of the year came at the NB3 Orlando Showcase, where she scored 71-71. Taking it one day at a time, she knows that each additional hour of practice and every tournament experience will make her even better.

One of the first quotes that inspired Ana is, “Act as if you are, and you will become such.” She applies this quote to many aspects of her life, understanding that to become what you want to be, you must first act as if you already are.