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- NB3 Foundation hosts second annual Native Youth Golf Championship at Santa Ana Golf Club.
Nearly 50 Native youth golfers ages 8-18 competed in the NB3 Foundation 2nd annual Native Youth Golf Championship on August 8-10 at the Santa Ana Golf Club, Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. Four from the group qualified to play in the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship at Kosati Pines at Coushatta in Kinder, La. in November.
“The tournament was exciting from beginning to end,” Clint Begay, director of NB3FIT said. It was great to meet all the youth and families and we are excited to send four Native youth to the national championship.”
Laylee Wishark ,13, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Kanyon DeRyke,13, Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, Shandiin Harper ,18, Diné and Adiance Cheromiah ,17, Pueblo of Laguna, won their respective age divisions and securing themselves a spot in the national event that will air on Golf Channel.
Wishark, shot 83 and 85 earning her spot to play in the national tournament. Wishark said she was most proud and thankful for her family and community who supported her journey to compete in the tournament. She and her family drove over 1,000-miles from Carthage, Miss. to compete in the tournament.
DeRyke, they boys 13 & under division winner, shot his best score ever 2-under on the final day of the championship. DeRyke, Bringham, Utah, said he was excited about the opportunity to compete in Coushatta.
Last year’s 14-18 girl’s division champ returned this year looking to defend her title. After one round of play Harper found herself four strokes back from day one leader Emma Worgum, Mount Vernon, Wash. On day two, Harper staged a comeback shooting a division best, 71 to reclaim her title as the girl’s division Native Youth Golf Champion.
“I came in today four back, and I ended up winning by three today so that’s pretty cool,” she said. “I’m excited to go back [to Coushatta] and play better than I did last year. I think last year I wasn’t really ready.”
Taking home top honors in the boys 14-18 division was Adiance Cheromiah, Pueblo of Laguna. They boy’s division was a close finish, Cheromiah taking home first place by one stroke and leaving a three-way tie for second and third. After a two-hole playoff, Skyler Woods, Diné, claimed outright second and Tristen Toledo, Pubelo of Jemez, secured third.
Looking ahead to the Notah Begay III Junior National Championship in November, Cheromiah said he’s wants to focus on keeping a positive outlook.
“My mentality, not letting my emotions get to me, and working on my iron approach shots,” he said.
Begay was pleased with the diverse turnout this year and said he looks forward to welcoming more Native youth golfers next year.
“It was a great event and we were excited to see so many new faces out on the course this year,” Begay said. “We had an exciting finish in the boys 14-18 division and it was just a great atmosphere watching these dedicated junior golfers in their element… the future is bright for Native youth golfers.”
Girls 13 & Under:
Laylee Wishark +24
Hayden Dan + 38
Dallas Dan +46
Girls 14-18:
Shandiin Harper +4
Emma Worgum +7
Beans Factor + 15
Boys 13 & Under:
Kanyon DeRyke +5
Deviond Shendo +32
Kenneth Tafoya + 46
Boys 14-18:
Adiance Cheromiah +11
Skyler Woods +17
Tristen Thompson +17
