Sun Country PGA Section to Lead Native American Golf Clinic in Conjunction with 36th PGA Club Professional Championship

SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. - The PGA of America and the Sun Country PGA Section will team to present a Native American Golf Clinic Wednesday, June 18, at 3 p.m., in conjunction with the 36th PGA Club Professional Championship at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M.

The clinic, conducted at Twin Warriors' Practice Range, will feature more than 130 youths from six Pueblo tribes and 13 Sun Country PGA Professionals. Guest instructors include defending PGA Club Professional Champion Barry Evans of Charleston, W.Va., 1993 Champion J.R. Roth of Flushing, Mich., and 1983 Champion Larry Webb of Rociada, N.M. The 36th CPC opens Thursday at Twin Warriors Golf Club, and will be televised live by The Golf Channel to more than 50 million viewers in the United States and Canada.

"Native Americans have contributed to the growth of golf in this country by sharing their native land for the development of outstanding facilities, such as the site of this year's national championship for PGA Professionals," said PGA of America President M.G. Orender. "Thanks to the initiative of many of our members, more young Native Americans have found a passion to enjoy golf for generations to come."

Sun Country PGA Section President Gary Davis, the head professional at Twin Warriors Golf Club, said Native Americans represent "a big and enthusiastic segment of the golf scene in New Mexico." The Santa Ana Golf Program at Santa Ana Golf Club in Bernalillo, N.M., Davis said, "has been a forerunner for involving more Native Americans into golf. There is more Native American land being used for golf in New Mexico and the clinic we have for the CPC is but one part of the showcase of what can be done to bring more golfers into the game."

PGA Foundation grants to Native Americans include $17,825 to the Santa Ana Golf Program, $31,000 to Golf For Kids of South Dakota Inc., Rapid City, S.D.; $18,000 to the U.P. Native American Golf Association of Brimley, Mich., and $35,000 to the Native American Junior Golf Association of Mayetta, Kan.

Robert Lowry, a 57-year-old PGA Teaching Professional since 1995 at Santa Ana Golf Club in Bernalillo, N.M., conducts 1,500 lessons annually and began teaching Native Americans eight years ago. He led the introduction of PGA instruction to Pueblo tribes in the Greater Albuquerque area. This week, Lowry has coordinated the clinic with Sun Country PGA Executive Director John Speary. A 1999 graduate of The PGA's Golf Management Program, Lowry was the 2001 Sun Country PGA Teacher of the Year and had his program featured by the USGA at the 2000 U.S. Open.

"It's been a wish of mine to bring as many Native Americans into golf as I can," said Lowry, who founded the Santa Ana Junior Golf Open two years ago, attracting players from seven Pueblo tribes and whose overall program impacts more than 300 young Native Americans. "Notah Begay is the most successful Native American golfer, and is a role model to many young people here. I believe that there may be other talented Native Americans like him who, given the opportunity, can develop their talent and achieve even greater success in golf."

Founded in 1916, The PGA of America is a not-for-profit organization composed of more than 28,000 men and women professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.