Lizette Salas had to smile. What had to be something like the 700th reference to the “American dream” was on its way from yet another interviewer.
“No, I’m not tired of that,” Salas told The Denver Post. “I’ll never be tired of that. Our family has lived it. That’s who I am.”
A rookie on the U.S. team for this week’s Solheim Cup matches at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Salas is a first-generation American who can wave the flag with as much pride as anyone.
Her parents, Ramon and Martha, left a small town outside Guadalajara, Mexico, when they were 18 and emigrated to the U.S. in search of a better life. Ramon had worked construction jobs in Mexico for low wages. Martha was a teacher.
They relocated to the Los Angeles area in 1973 and got married. Their three children were born in the U.S., with Lizette, 24, being the youngest. Ramon and Martha took night classes to learn English and became U.S. citizens in 1995.
“My parents came to the U.S. with nothing and worked their way up,” Salas said. “They’ve taught me so much about hard work and accomplishing your goals. I feel that has helped me in golf.”
As if it were fate, Ramon landed a job as a mechanic at Azusa (Calif.) Greens Country Club, where he has worked for more than three decades. When Lizette was entering grade school, Ramon took his daughter to the course one day.
“I could see she fell in love with golf,” he recalled.
The club professional, Jerry Herrera, must have also seen that in Lizette’s eyes. When Ramon told Herrera he could not afford golf lessons for his daughter, the pro said his private residence was in need of several handyman jobs and his car could use some repairs, and Ramon could trade that work for lessons.
Lizette took to the game immediately.
“What I saw was Lizette had a good attitude for this sport,” Ramon said. “I saw something different in her from other kids.”
Martha Salas is a teacher’s aide working with young children.
“I got the love of learning from my mom,” Lizette said. “And my dad instilled the hard work and the sacrifice that it takes.”
Salas didn’t own a pair of golf shoes until age 9 and played mostly in local events while growing up. But University of Southern California coach Andrea Gaston spotted Salas’ potential, and Lizette became a four-time All-American for the Trojans — and the first person in her family with a college diploma.
“We’re very, very blessed,” Martha said. “At first, we thought golf would be an open door for Lizette to go to a prestigious university. Thank God, it happened. She did it. She graduated. Then when she said, ‘I’m going to try to play on the tour,’ we said, ‘Go ahead.’ We are so proud of her.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280, tkensler@denverpost.com or
Solheim Cup practice
Tuesday-Thursday
7 a.m.: Gates open
8 a.m.: Practice rounds startOpening ceremony: 5 p.m. Thursday
TicketsPractice rounds: $37 per day
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Week pass: $127
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Info: or call 1-800-2SOLHEIM
