Seven jr. golfers advance to national championship
The NB3 Foundation’s Native Youth Golf Championship made its return to the Santa Ana Club July 21-23, 2024. Over 60 Native youth golfers competed in this year’s event with seven Native youth ages 9-17 securing their spots to play in the NB3 Junior Golf Championship in November. In its fifth year, the Native Youth Golf Championship continues to be popular event amongst Native youth across the country.
“That is the best thing about this tournament is that we are getting to meet different players who are Native and have the same passion,” Peyton “Beans” Factor said.
This year’s event winners include:
Braxton Thomas, Cherokee Nation, 10-11 years old
Santana Parraz, Navajo Nation, 10-11 years old
Harlow Gregory, Choctaw Nation, 12-13 years old
Wyatt Basford, Cherokee Nation,12 -13 years old
Emma Cunningham, Oneida Nation, 14-15 years old
Preston Ross, Navajo Nation, 14-15 years old
Beans Factor, Seminole, Chickasaw, Choctaw 16-18 years old
Talan Gover, Navajo Nation, Pawnee, Choctaw 16-18 years old
Talan Gover and Santana Parraz will not be competing in Coushatta come November. Parraz won the division, but the 10-11 age group didn’t meet the minimum number of golfers to qualify a winner for the national championship.
Gover, a recent high school graduate, has accepted a golf scholarship at the University of Northern Colorado making him ineligible to play in the 2024 NB3 JGNC. Gover knowing if he won he could not compete in the national championship still chose to attend and play in the Native Youth Golf Championship for more personal reasons.
“It’s bigger than the game,” he said. “It’s about getting to play with my people, that’s what that meant to me.”
Second place finisher in the 16-18 age division, Zachary BlueEyes (Navajo Nation), will take Gover’s place and play for his third time at the NB3 JGNC.
Other repeat champions include Beans Factor, Harlow Gregory, Wyatt Basford, Preston Ross and Emma Cunningham.
