Past champions dominate NB3 Native Youth golf tourney

SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. – As Preston Ross approached the last hole at the Santa Ana Golf Club, the Page teenager had an inkling that he had successfully defended his title at the 5th Annual NB3 Foundation Native Youth Golf Championship.

The Diné golfer finished out the two-day tournament strong despite feeling some jitters held July 22-23.

“I was trying to hold it together in the last hole,” Ross said. “I didn’t want to make a big mistake, like hitting it in the water.”

Ross finished last week’s tournament with seven birdies as he beat out seven players to repeat as the boys 14-15 champion on Tuesday afternoon. He finished with a total score of 144, fighting off Oklahoma golfer Drake Kanuch (147) and Texas teenager Carson James (148).

Ross trailed James by three strokes after shooting one-under 71 in Monday’s round. But he found his footing early Tuesday when he hit his first birdie at No. 3.

“I think I definitely played a little more aggressive today,” Ross said. “But I think No. 3 was what kickstarted my front nine to where I had a couple of birdies.”

With his three-stroke win, the 15 year-old earned his second qualification to play in the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship scheduled for Nov. 8-10 at Koasati Pines at Coushatta in Kinder, Louisiana.
Last year Ross finished in a three-way tie for 28th place, shooting 10-over 223 at the national tournament.

“Playing on that course is tough,” Ross said. “I really didn’t know what to expect last year. I played well the first day, and the second day I kind of had a rough start.”

In addition to Ross, the NB3 Foundation also crowned seven other winners on Tuesday afternoon with a handful being past champions.

Talan Grover (boys 16-18), Wyatt Basford (boys 12-13), Beans Factor (girls 16-18), Emma Cunningham (girls 14-15) and Harlow Gregory (girls 12-13) were repeat winners while Braxton Thomas (boys 10-11) and Santana Parraz (girls 10-11) were first-time champions.

“Obviously, this is our fifth year and some of our previous winners were a part of this year’s field,” said NB3Fit director Clint Begay, the tournament organizer. “They’ve all come back, and they all did well during the two-day tournament.
“As I’ve said before, we want to give these kids an opportunity to play at a higher level,” he added. “Again, we’re giving them an opportunity to go to the national tournament in Coushatta. “Everybody enjoys that tournament. It’s a big event, and they do a good job of hosting it.”

Despite winning back-to-back titles, Grover will forgo the national tournament as he will be playing collegiately with the Northern Colorado golf team.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to go back to Louisiana but I’m just happy to defend my title,” Grover said. “I mean, it’s great to go back-to-back. I had to mentally prepare myself because I knew what I was getting into. I had to stay focused, and everything worked out.”

The Colorado Diné posted a 7-under 65 on Tuesday and his 36-hole total of 10-under 134 put him 12 strokes ahead of Kirtland’s Zachary BlueEyes (146).

“Personally, I thought I could have done better,” Grover said. “I mean, after the first nine I had a sloppy back nine, but I knew if I could tighten it up I would still have more left in me.”

Grover was pleased that BlueEyes will take his place at the national tournament.

“I’m happy for him,” Grover said. “I’m glad that he can go and experience it because it’s a fun tournament.”

BlueEyes didn’t know if he was in line to go as an alternate as he finished with mixed results.

“The first day I was one-under, but I just couldn’t put anything together on the second day,” BlueEyes said. “My drives were not going in my favor but what saved me was my short game.

“My short game is what kept me in the tournament,” he added.

This will be BlueEyes’ third trip to nationals as he represented the foundation in back-to-back years in 2020 and ’21.

“I kind of had a feeling that I was going to go, but Clint held that back until the last minute,” BlueEyes said. “I just had to keep playing my game, and I had to keep pushing. At the end of the day it worked out and I came in second.

“You know, Talan really pushed me,” he added. “With him shooting three-under the first day, he really pushed me. He helped me make my putts.”

In the boys 12-13, Basford shot a 148 and edged Brayden Sterling for the title.

“It’s really cool to win this tournament again,” Basford said. “Golf has always been my dream to do really good, and I think this is another step for me going forward.”

The Oklahoma native arrived at the tournament five days earlier as he got in some practice rounds.

“When you go out to different courses, the speed of the green is always different,” Basford said. “So, you have to adjust. Compared to home the elevation is a lot higher here, so you have to adjust to that.”

In the boys 10-11 division, Thomas opened up a six-stroke lead after the first day and won his age group with a score of 154. Second-place finisher Jaxon Brown golfed a two-day score of 170.

“I didn’t strike the ball very well with my irons and wedges, which is kind of odd,” Thomas said. “But I putted very well, and I hit my driver very well.”

Factor, who will age out after this year, captured her third NB3 title. On Tuesday, the Oklahoma native won the 16-18 girls division with a 151 score.

“This really means so much to be a three-time champion,” Factor said. “You know, I’ve gained so much from this tournament. It has given me so much confidence.”

Factor said she is looking to improve on her score at the national tournament in Louisiana.

“I like to progress as a player and just being able to go into that tournament with more confidence,” she said. “I want to have better scores than I did in the past.”

In the girls 14-15 division, Cunningham led from start to finish as she posted a 153, ahead of second-place finisher Hayden Dan (167) of Kirtland.

“The first day I was really happy because I shot three-over in the front and two-under in the back,” Cunningham said. “Today, I shot eight-over, which is OK. I struggled a little bit, but I had to finish.”

In the girls 12-13, Gregory went four-under 138 for her two-day total for first place, which is her second title.

“I really improved from last year,” Gregory said. “You know, I was hustling and working hard to win. This is my third year, and I’ve done really good here in the past.”

In the girls 10-11 division, Parraz won her first title by shooting 189.

“I didn’t play that good,” Parraz said. “I think I could have done better with my drives. I’m mostly comfortable playing in these tournaments, but I don’t know if I’m going to do bad or good.”

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