THE CHICKASAW NATION
2009 NATIONAL NATIVE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS “A BIG HIT”

First Nations Golf Association (FNGA) along with The Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, successfully conducted the National Native Golf Championship Week, held August 5th – 8th at the beautiful WinStar World Casino Resort and Golf Course.

Dave Woerz, Legislator for The Chickasaw Nation who was present at the event, stated, “We are pleased to see so many Native youth participate in the National Championship and it is so wonderful to see our youth building a future and participating in sports activities and through competition, build confidence and self esteem.”

The National Championships had close to 90 participants throughout the week at this annual event. The goal of the FNGA is to promote the game of golf to American Indians, especially youth, throughout the United States and Canada. In 2002, the FNGA became the first Native golf organization to start a Charitable Foundation targeted toward promoting the health, wellness and continued education of our Indian youth.

The FNGA is committed to making social and economic contributions to Indian and Native communities by exemplifying the rewards, honor, and integrity of golf. FNGA Board Member, Conrad King, Oneida Nation, said, “In 2002, the First Nations Golf Association became the leader in promoting healthy kids initiatives; all others follow the trail that the FNGA is blazing.”

The week long event was kicked off with a beautiful prayer by Rev. Bertram Bobb, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and opening Native Ceremony by the people of the Chickasaw Nation. The youth took center stage as the first round of the tournament took place. Stormy weather rolled in as the completion of the first round came to an end. Due to inclement weather, the Career Fair and Youth Golf Clinic were postponed until the following day.

Day two saw the conclusion of the youth championship and brought on the first rounds of both the women’s and men’s championships as they were played under beautiful sunny skies.

The results from the FNGA National Native Youth Golf Championships are listed below:
Falcon Division Boys (Ages 8-10)
Champion - Trenton Hundley Mississippi Choctaw
2nd Place - Richard Nabahe Pueblo Laguna

Thunderbird Division Boys (Ages 11-12)

Champion - Darren Smith Pueblo of Laguna
2nd Place - Grant Danforth
Oneida of Wisconsin
3rd Place - Kolton Huff Oneida of Wisconsin

Hawk Division Boys (Ages 13-15)

Champion - Trae Wilkins Oklahoma Choctaw
2nd Place - Jerrad Wilkins Chickasaw Nation
3rd Place - Austin McNeil Chickasaw Nation

Hawk Division Girls (Ages 13-16)

Champion - Carol Murphy Pechanga
2nd Place - Ashton Gores Western Cherokee
3rd Place - Madeline Jack Chickasaw Nation

Eagle Division Boys (Ages 16-18)

Champion - Cody Blaine Oklahoma Choctaw
2nd Place - Chad Smith Seminole/Creek
3rd Place - Russell Cozad
Kiowa

The youth enjoyed the closing awards ceremonies which featured a drum song composed and sung by Russell Cozad, the youth career fair and golf clinic that followed their tournament. Congratulations to all the young golfers who participated.

The women’s tournament took center stage on Friday, August 7th as they played their final round and the men played their second round of golf. The competition was fierce and the golf that was played was brilliant and fun. Tournament winners in the women’s gross and net divisions are listed below.

FNGA Gross National Women’s Open Championship

Champion - Cheryl Mitchell
First Nations Walpole Island
2nd Place - Destiny Whitney
Tsuu Tina First Nations
3rd Place - Michelle Palmer Mescalero Apache

FNGA Net National Women’s Open Championship

Champion - Emily McDonald Potawatomi
2nd Place - Rachael Hill Oneida of Wisconsin
3rd place - Joanne King Oneida of Wisconsin

A wonderful banquet and awards ceremony for the women participants was held following the completion of play where many laughs and stories were enjoyed by all.

The FNGA Men’s Open Championship was well underway with two rounds completed and one more to be played. Gene Webster, Jr. of San Bernardino, CA had a commanding lead as he shot rounds of 66-64= 130 an amazing 14 under par!

The twenty year old Webster, who is Ojibwa, Oneida and Navajo, finished in 3rd place at this year’s NCAA’s Division II National Championships and will be a senior at Cal State – San Bernardino this fall. Webster also competed in the USGA Public links Championship, in Tulsa, OK earlier this summer where he was the 5th seed, but was defeated in his quest for the championship losing in the second round of match play. Webster is a 4-time National Native Youth Champion and Gold Medal winner at the 2006 Indigenous Games.

The third and final round was conducted Saturday, August 8th and the week long FNGA National Native Championship came to a close as Gene Webster, Jr. was crowned champion!

Tournament winners are listed below:

FNGA National Men’s Open Championship

Champion - Gene Webster, Jr. (A) Ojibwa/Oneida/Navajo
2nd Place - Chris Collins Cheyenne River Sioux
3rd Place - Mack Hamilton
Oklahoma Choctaw

FNGA Executive Director, Jayson Ray, Klamath-Modoc stated, “It was a fantastic week for Indian People as a whole, Indian Golf in Indian Country and especially our youth and their parents and grandparents.”

Over the last 4 years, the FNGA Professional Golf Tour has given out over $750,000 in prize money to Native professional and amateur golfers and thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving youth for higher education. “We do this through a grass roots effort, Indian community to Indian community. We rely on the support of tribes who value traditional Native ways, hard work and dedication to healthy cause, not big name star power that get paid to show up,” explained, Ray.

The FNGA has several youth golf chapters across Indian Country and now has a “spin-off” organization to help aspiring young golfers to become golf professionals and as industry leaders in the sport. The First Nations Professional Golfer Association was founded by 23 native golf professionals, this spring at the Talking Stick Golf Resort owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Scottsdale, AZ. The President of the organization is Paul Hooser, Oklahoma Choctaw and 27-year employee of the PGA of America, Walter Hopper, Osage, serves as Vice-President, JC Wright, Lakota Sioux, who just became a PGA Member, is Secretary and Steve McDonald, Potawatomi, a 25-year member of the PGA was named Honorary President. Hooser explained, “This organization was founded to help further the development of Indian people who are interested in becoming golf professionals, we provide technical services, mentoring and hopefully in the near future financial support to assist those individuals who want to learn the business of golf, become a PGA Members and then go out in the market place and work at an Indian owned golf facility.”
Sammy Clemmons, a Tribal Councilman from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, whose son Trent won the boys Falcon Division said, “More tribes, especially those who own golf courses should consider supporting the efforts of the FNGA, this organization is truly making a difference in the lives of Indian people and they are doing it for the right reasons and in a good way.”

For more information about the First Nations Golf Association, a 501 c-3 not-for-profit organization, log on to the website at www.fnga.org. Or if you or your tribe is interested in conducting a Professional Native Golf tournament at your facility, please contact Jayson Ray at jray@fnga.net .

FIRST NATIONS GOLF ASSOICATION
36563 Agency Loop Road
Chiloquin,OR 97624
Phone (253) 221.0140
Email: jray@fnga.net
Website: www.fnga.net

Contact: Jayson Ray, Executive Director
Phone: (253)221-0140