Golf has always been a family affair for ULM golfer Daniela Campillo, who started playing at age 7. Growing up in Barcelona, Spain, she learned the sport from her father, Juan Carlos Campillo Martinez, a competitive local golfer. Golf quickly became a central part of her life.
“I started playing because of my dad. We were always watching golf on TV, and I became interested,” she said.
While Daniela Campillo followed in her father’s footsteps, her older brother, David Campillo, pursued photography and is now a professional photographer in Spain. Even though their passions differ, the siblings share a close bond.
“My brother doesn’t understand the game but still tries to support me,” she said. “I am also always there for him.”
Campillo’s supportive mother, Bleidis Martinez Caballero, taught her ballet to develop discipline and grace. Though Campillo had opportunities to pursue ballet seriously, she chose to follow her passion for golf.
“I had a great offer from a high school to continue ballet, but I had to sacrifice one for the other. I believed I could do so much better in golf,” she said.
After years of sharing the game with her father, Martinez’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease came as an unexpected shock. Four years ago, Campillo went through one of the most challenging times of her life. Golf no longer felt the same, and finding her focus for a while was difficult.
“When we found out at first, it was really hard. I felt lost for a while,” Campillo said. “But we stayed close as a family and supported him.”
Despite the difficulties, Campillo found the strength to move forward. Her father remained active in the golf community, even establishing a club for golfers with Parkinson’s, which inspired her to stay motivated.
“My dad manages a company that helps people with Parkinson’s play golf. He’s doing great now, and I am really happy for that,” she said.
As Campillo navigated the challenges in her personal life, she realized that golf, much like life, is about mental fortitude. Campillo credits her coaches, Julieta and Racheal Pollock, for helping her develop this mindset.
“Julieta was the first coach who really believed in me. She prepared me mentally for college golf,” Campillo said. “Pollock and Julieta are similar in how they push me to stay disciplined and perform at my best.”
One of Campillo’s proudest moments came this year at the 2024 Infinitum Golf in Tarragona, where she won the Catalunya Championship with her mother standing alongside her.
“My mom was next to me the entire time, and we even had matching outfits,” Campillo said with a laugh. “She doesn’t know much about golf, but she kept asking if the shot was good. It made the win even sweeter having her there.”
Campillo’s hard work and dedication also paid off in the 2024 UAB Hoover Invite, where she sank 12 birdies over three rounds. She finished the event with scores of 69, 73 and 71 for a total of 213 (-3).
Her impressive performance helped ULM secure a second-place team finish to open the season, with Campillo finishing just two strokes shy of the individual title.
“This year started great for me. I had a great game at UAB where I finished second, just two strokes behind the top place,” Campillo said. “Every day, I try to improve, and Pollock is always there to help me.”
In addition to her individual goals, Campillo has high hopes for the team. After helping ULM secure a second-place finish at the UAB Hoover Invitational, she believes a victory is within reach.
“We were close last time, and if we keep improving, a win will come soon,” she said. “We struggle during our last days. If we manage to do well in the last round, we will win a trophy.”
Campillo is constantly honing her skills, individually and as part of a team, and remains committed to taking the next step toward her ultimate goal of playing professionally in Europe.
