First Nations Golf Association
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information Contact: Paul Hooser, PGA (913) 850-3700

“SPIN-OFF” ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR NATIVE PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS - Aiming all the way to the PGA of America

Phoenix, Arizona (June 13, 2009) – The Board of Directors for the First Nations Golf Association (FNGA) today announced that a “spin-off” organization has been formed to dedicate resources and support to individual Native golfers pursuing membership in the PGA of America.
During a recent FNGA Professional Golf Tournament held at the Talking Sticks Golf Course located at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Scottsdale, Arizona, a group of dedicated professional Native golfers founded the First Nations Professional Golfers Association (FNPGA). The newly formed organization is chartered under the existing First Nations Golf Association and its purpose will be to develop and foster the careers of young men and women pursuing membership in the PGA of America.
“This national initiative was developed to assist the growing number of individuals who want to become PGA professionals and work at their own tribally owned golf courses,” stated Walter Hopper (Osage) a 26-year employee of the PGA and newly elected Vice-President of the organization.
“We’ve already assisted several members of the organization through answering membership questions, mentoring and opening useful lines of communication,” said Paul Hooser (Oklahoma Choctaw) President of the newly formed organization and 27-year member of the PGA.
Honorary President Steve McDonald (Potawatomi) and a 25-year member of the PGA said, “Not only is this organization the first of its kind, it is strong in numbers and falls under the umbrella of the First Nations Golf Association and the FNGA Foundation.”

“As leaders we can provide financial assistance to individual PGA apprentices with tuitions, books and travel expenses. We are developing the next generation of leaders both on and off the course through the great game of golf,” McDonald said.
“We are leading the way for our youth and need the support of individual tribal business owners, tribal leaders and those businesses who have benefited from Indian casino’s to assist our efforts by making financial contributions to our foundation,” said FNGA executive director Jayson Ray. “We are doing the same thing for any individual who wants to become a golf course superintendant as well,” said Ray, a Klamath-Modoc from Chiloquin, OR.
“Our outreach and capacity building is strong, we need assistance with funding, we still volunteer our time and efforts and are looking for a tribal leader(s) or other individual organization to step up and support our healthy youth and young adult initiatives,” Ray said.

JC Wright (Lakota) who just became a PGA member last year, serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the FNPGA. Wright is an assistant professional at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club which is owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation located on the Ft. McDowell Reservation, Arizona. “I am honored to be a part of the First Nations Professional Golf Association and, as a PGA Professional, I am looking forward to helping others who are heading down that same career path.”

The following is a list of the founding members of the newly formed FNPG:

Jon Beaver, Den'e
Collins Billy, Mississippi Choctaw
Ivan CrowEagle, Lakota
Nate Dick, Umatilla
Ryan Franklin, Navajo
Walter Hopper, Osage
Paul Hooser PGA, Oklahoma Choctaw
Joe Langer, Turtle Mountain
Darrell Lowery, Croatan
Troy Lunderman, Lakota
Steve McDonald PGA, Potawatomi Demondo Mingo PGA, Mississippi Choctaw
Jayson Ray, Klamath/Modoc Charles Swallow, Lakota
Stanford Teller, Navajo
Herman Young, Mississippi Choctaw
JC Wright PGA, Lakota

About FNGA
The First Nations Golf Association, headquartered in Chiloquin, OR, is a national non-profit all Indian organization solely dedicated to developing American Indian golfers, both youth and adults through coaching, mentoring, golf instruction, golf clinics, and national championship events. The First Nations Golf Association’s Championship week is scheduled for August 4-8, 2009. The youth, women’s, and men’s championships are scheduled along with a youth career fair and golf instructional clinic. For more information about the FNGA and the All-Indian Championship Week at Winstar log onto www.fnga.net.