Adjusted Attitude Aids Cochran’s Success

Amie Cochran drives a 1969 Chevelle Malibu, listens to hard-rock bands Godsmack and Metallica and once carried her golf clubs in a bag adorned with orange flames.

She also spent a week in a hospital two years ago recovering from a life-threatening bout with lupus, nearly came to tears when her high school golf career came to a close last month and deals daily with being a minority woman in a sport that hasn’t fully accepted minorities or women.

It’s all part of the complexities facing Cochran, the sometimes bold and assertive, yet sometimes reflective and pensive, senior from West Torrance.

But while her off-course personality contains intricacies only she can explain, her golf alter-ego is driven by one simple trait: the desire to win.

This year, she did plenty of that while averaging 35.9 strokes for nine holes, then storming through the postseason with a 72.25 average for 18 holes. The Times’ girls’ golfer of the year capped her season with back-to-back victories in the Southern California regional and state championships.

“I’m really pretty simple,” Cochran said. “Basically, I hate losing.”

Outside of high school golf, that hasn’t been a problem. Cochran, who has signed with UCLA, won an AJGA tournament over the summer. She also shot an American Junior Golf Assn.-record nine-under-par 62 and was selected to the elite U.S. Junior Solheim Cup and West Canon Cup teams.

In high school golf, Cochran had finished second in the Southern Section finals three consecutive years. This year, she hit a ball out of bounds on No. 11 and took a double bogey, then tried to reach the green on the par-four 18th and ended up with a bogey.

Two bad swings and she finished seventh, four shots behind winner Angela Park of Torrance. But just when it seemed a major high school title would elude her, she dominated the Southern California regional with a four-under 68 -- good for a five-stroke victory. The next day, she won the state title in a playoff.

‘I’m very happy with my high school career,” Cochran said. “It was very successful.”

In more ways than one.

Coaches and opposing players say Cochran has matured exponentially during her years in high school. She came in brash and cocky but leaves with a greater appreciation for those with whom she is competing.

In the past, Cochran might go an entire round without speaking to her playing partners. She would walk briskly to the next tee while others were still putting. Now, she is social, patient and even helps coach lesser-skilled players.

“There were times that other players didn’t want to play with her,” West Torrance Coach Paul Demetropolis said. “Maybe there still are, but she lost a lot of her attitude over the years. She’s a different girl now.”

Cochran said her attitude gives her an edge. She doesn’t deny trying to intimidate opponents. The car, the music and the golf bag are part of that.

She also comes from a blue-collar family, a departure from the stuffy country-club world associated with golf.

“I don’t know where it comes from, it’s just there,” Cochran said. “You can’t learn to be competitive. I’ve just learned how to deal with it better. I still want to win, I just try not to be so open about my feelings when I don’t.”

Cochran’s father, Kenny, said Amie had that drive the first time she played in a tournament and saw others getting trophies.

“She doesn’t work on being intimidating,” her father said. “She just has a lot of confidence and that can be intimidating to others, but she’s changed a lot in this past year. She’s interacting more with the high school team and [has] taken a leadership position. It’s definitely a sign of maturity.”

Playing against national-caliber competition helped. When she was young, Cochran won just about everything she entered, but on the AJGA circuit, she faced players of equal ability.

“It was humbling,” she said.

So was her battle with lupus, a chronic disease that can affect the skin, joints, blood and kidneys. Doctors said she would never play golf again. Cochran must wear long sleeves and pants to protect her skin, but the pain in her joints has subsided.

Cochran’s mother is Mexican and Puerto Rican and her father is white. Her dark complexion has led to some racial issues, but Cochran looks at it as a blessing.

“This sport needs some color and some spice,” she said, “especially the women’s side.”

Cochran cites fiery Dottie Pepper as her favorite on the LPGA Tour and hopes one day to emulate the 17-time tour winner. With an ability to drive the ball long, a deft short game and the confidence to speak her mind, that shouldn’t be a problem.

“Oh yeah,” West Torrance teammate Allie Branzuela said. “She has the whole package.”

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The Times’ All-Star Girls’ Golf Team

FIRST TEAM

Esther Choe

La Quinta

Fresh.

Desert Valley League champion tied for fourth at Southern Section finals.

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Amie Cochran

West Torrance

Senior

State and CIF-WSCGA titles capped phenomenal high school career.

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Tina Eng

Keppel

Junior

Her 74.6 postseason average included a fourth place in state and sixth in Southern Section.

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Jennie Lee

Edison

Junior

Tied for fourth at the section finals after playing the regular season in seven under par.

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Angela Park

Torrance

Soph.

Southern Section champion put together a string of five rounds under par this season.

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Jennifer Yoo

Cerritos

Senior

Finished third in the Southern Section and tied for sixth at the CIF-WSCGA finals.

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Bob Wilton

Peninsula

Coach

After a one-stroke loss in the section finals, rallied team to victories in regional and state championships.

SECOND TEAM

*--* Jane Chin Marina Senior Melanie DeLeon Saugus Junior Jane Lee Peninsula Senior Emily Mason Redlands East Valley Soph. Ryann O’Toole San Clemente Junior Sommer Scholl King Junior

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