NB3 Foundation Native Youth Golf Championship: Holbrook golfer earns national bid in playoff win

By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times

SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. – The 6th Annual NB3 Foundation Native Youth Golf Championship had some drama that unfolded on the final day of the three-day competition.

The event had its second-ever playoff with Kirtland’s Dallas Dan and Holbrook’s Kezia Danner needing two extra holes to settle their tie for the right to represent the NB3 Foundation at this fall’s Notah Begay III Jr. Golf National Championship at Koasati Pines at Coushatta (Kinder, Louisiana) on Tuesday afternoon at Santa Ana Golf Club in the girls 16-18 division.

The two players tied for second place and finished with a 171 total behind event winner Jada Dickson, who carded an 88 and 80 for a score of 168. Due to her commitment to play for Haskell Indian Nations University in the fall, Dickson had to forfeit her invitation to play at the national tournament in Louisiana.

“It does take a lot for these girls to finish their day tied behind our winner,” NB3 Fit Program Coordinator Demitrius Payne said. “For them to come out here to play extra holes after playing 18 holes just shows how much the determination and grit these girls have.

“Even though it was only two holes, it was extra walking, you know, being out there a little longer, carrying your bag,” he added. “These girls went out there and they played their hardest. Eventually, someone had to come out on top.”

To force the tie, Dan erased a four-stroke deficit and carded an 83 on the final day to Danner’s 87. But in the sudden death format, Danner sealed the win on Hole No. 2, needing only three strokes.

“I just couldn’t hold it together,” Danner said of her earlier rounds on Tuesday. “My putting was just off today. In one of my holes on the back nine, it was par-3, I flew the green and I ended up in the bunker.

“In Holbrook, we don’t have bunkers, so my bunker game is not the best,” she added. “I just couldn’t get out of the bunker, and I couldn’t get on the green. I ended up three-putting that one.”

Danner admitted to experiencing some nerves in the sudden death round, but she managed to calm down.

“My heart was definitely beating, and I just thought of playing freely and enjoying my round,” she said. “I just wanted to enjoy my round.”

Danner says she is looking forward to competing at the national tournament, which is scheduled for Nov. 2-4 for girls and Nov. 7-9 for boys.

“It’s definitely going to be my biggest tournament,” she said. “I just really want to do well, but I’m pretty excited for it. I’m just grateful for this opportunity.”

Clint Begay, the Native youth tournament coordinator, says the foundation will have eight qualifiers, four boys and four girls, that will compete in the national tournament.

“The biggest benefit for our tournament is seeing all these Native youth golfers from all over the country come to New Mexico to play and represent their tribes,” Begay said. “There’s a lot of good golfers out there, so we get the opportunity to see them and hopefully help them get to that national championship.”

Other winners include Oklahoma’s Braxton Thomas (boys 10-11), Oklahoma’s Wyatt Brasford (boys 12-13), Rio Rancho’s Deviond Gachupin (boys 14-15), Hawaii’s Keola Silva (boys 16-18), Albuquerque’s Santa Parraz (girls 10-11), Hawaii’s Amelia Silva (girls 12-13), Oklahoma’s Dani McTague (girls 14-15), and Flagstaff’s Dickson (girls 16-18).

After three previous tries, Dickson finally earned her first championship at the annual NB3 youth tournament.

“I’m very satisfied with how I played this year,” said Dickson, who carded scores of 88 and 80 over the two-day tournament.

“The first day I struggled with putting and a little bit with my drives,” the recent Coconino High graduate said. “I just couldn’t get it, but on the second day I was really locked in with my putting.”

Despite trailing by four strokes heading into Tuesday’s round, Dickson wasn’t expecting to be hoisting the championship trophy.

“I thought I was going to struggle because I think the back nine is a little tougher,” she said. “Usually, I’m used to having a first bad nine but today I completely change my whole game and I had a great back nine.”

In those last nine, Dickson parred on eight holes with her only blemish coming on the 15th hole when she finished with a double bogey.

In the girls 12-13 division, Silva earned her second trip to nationals as she finished with a 154 score, going 10-over 72.

“These two days were good,” Silva said. “I mean, I shot the same and I had hoped to have shot better today. I’m just happy that I was able to keep my cool out there. Even if I win or lose, I was able to keep my cool out there.”

Silva, who won the 10-11 age group in 2023, says she’s excited to represent the NB3 Foundation at the national tournament.

“I just want to shoot better and hopefully win against all such great people around the world,” Silva said. “That would be awesome.”

Parraz, the girls 10-11 winner, is also looking forward to competing in the national tournament. Last year, she won the same age division but due to limited players in her age group the foundation did not send her to nationals.

“I’m really excited because last year I didn’t get to go,” the Diné golfer said.

Parraz finished with a score of 165, as she beat second-place winner Breeja Foster of Gallup by 21 strokes.

“Yesterday, I shot pretty good,” said Parraz, who noted that she beat her goals of staying under 90 strokes on both days.

In the boys 10-11 division, Thomas successfully defended his crown as he edged Adam Martinez by one stroke.

“It makes me really happy, just to know that I did it again,” said Thomas, who finished 1-over at 145. “I think this year it was more challenging because of the conditions and the players in my age group.”

Thomas had a few things go right on the final hole as Martinez was up by one stroke going into the 16th hole.

“Adam bogeyed, and I birdied,” Thomas said of pulling out the win. “It surprised me a little bit because I kind of hit (the ball) in the rough off the tee box. Then I hit in the rough again on my lay-up shot. It was a difficult par, but I got it done.”

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