Kamikaze plans to go pro in the mainland

Many time CNMI national golfer Joe “Kamikaze” Camacho last year relocated to the U.S. mainland to pursue his dream of becoming a professional golfer.

Along the way, the multi-titled par-buster won the 2007 Hafa Adai Golf Classic Tournament and was able to spend quality time with brothers Tony and Vidal.

Camacho left the CNMI for the U.S. last June 20, 2007, to make a career of what used to be just a weekend hobby playing golf.

Barely 10 days after landing in the States, Camacho joined the 2007 Hafa Adai Golf Classic Tournament and won the overall championship held in July 2 and 3, 2007, at the Monarch Bay and SummitPointe golf courses in San Mateo, California.

“I was talked into joining the Hafa Adai Golf Classic by my brother Tony “Skag” and my younger brother Vidal who I haven’t seen for almost 12 years. I won that tournament by the way, which my brothers want me to defend in July of this year before I join the nationwide tour,” he said in an email to the Saipan Tribune.

Nowadays, Camacho is pretty much occupied at improving his golf game, which according to him, has progressed by leaps and bounds to the point that he’s just a step away from turning professional.

“I’ve been very busy with work and fine-tuning my swing because there’s so many things going on its hard to keep up. It’s good that spring is here and there’s more daylight now than winter which gives me plenty of time after work to practice on my game.

“I’ve been working very hard to fine tune my game and taking it to the next level because my plan is to turn professional after I defend my title in San Diego in July 2 and 3. I’m basically just a signature away from becoming a pro because I could do it any time, I just want to spend time with my brothers before I do it because it will be a fulltime commitment,” said Camacho.

Asked about what a year away from home has meant for him, the 2005 Johnny Walker Classic Pro-Am qualifier said it was a chance to meet up with relatives and friends he hasn’t seen for a while.

“I really enjoyed myself last year because I got to spend almost two weeks with my brothers and I met my cousin who I haven’t seen for more than 20 years so I really had a blast.”

It’s not to say that he doesn’t miss Saipan though, as Camacho verily admitted that he thinks everything and anything about the island life in his spare time.

“I miss everything about home—the weather, friends, the food, golfing with the boys, the beach, fishing, especially the peace and quite of the island. Now I truly believe that there’s no place like home.”

Camacho also discussed about his future plans, and one of them includes coming back to the Commonwealth and help aspiring athletes reach their full potential and achieve their dreams.

“I don’t really know if I’m actually ever coming back to Saipan. To visit, yes, but to stay, maybe. But I’ll come back someday and share my experiences with the kids so they too can live the dreams that we all have, to be who we are. When I left Saipan I felt like I left a big hole, a gap that someday I’ll have to come back and fix it. My goal right now is to represent the Northern Marianas the best way I can its’ not going to be easy but whoever said we can’t try.”