Mark Wagner
Special to ICT
SANTA ANA PUEBLO, New Mexico — The 6th Native American Open at Santa Ana Golf Club and Twin Warriors produced both surprises and expected results.
In the surprise category, Santana Parraz, Navajo, won the Women’s Flight, a remarkable achievement for any golfer, but even more so that Parraz, at the age of 12, has the savvy to negotiate the beautiful golf courses for this year’s open at the Santa Ana Pueblo.
As to how she stays focused playing the difficult game of golf?
“I like to think of something that looks cute,” she said. “Like a duck.”
For the second year in a row, Laguna Pueblo golfer Aidan Thomas, right, won the Championship Flight at the Native American Open at the Santa Ana Golf Club in New Mexico. Santana Parraz, Navajo, left, won the Women’s Flight at just 12 years old. The tournament was hosted by the Santa Ana Pueblo on Oct. 17-18, 2026. Credit: Mark Wagner/Special to ICT
Although there had been reports of black bears wandering along the nearby Rio Grande, which had been running high from recent rains, the “expected” results involved a “Big Dog,” Aidan Thomas, Laguna Pueblo, last year’s winner and a talented golfer at the start of a professional career.
Golfers at the Native American Open admitted they “were playing for second place,” and Thomas did not disappoint, winning going away at -8 to par.
“When it’s clicking for me,” Thomas told ICT, “I’m hitting it in the middle of the face and in the fairway or barely missing it every time. When that happens, on the green I’m putting for birdies.”
The Native American Open tournament, hosted Oct. 17-18 by the Santa Ana Pueblo on its acclaimed golf courses, this year drew 144 players from 18 states and 2 Canadian provinces, representing 62 tribes, bands and nations.
Santana Parraz
Parraz must be good at bringing cute ducks to mind. At this summer’s NB3 Junior Golf National Championship, Santana won the Girls 10-11 division.
“The competition makes me want to do better,” Parraz told ICT at the Native American Open award’s ceremony.
She credits her developing abilities to her father, Gil, as well as her teacher, Dorothy Delasin, the 2000 Rookie of the Year for the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Both Santana and her father also note the instruction at the Mercer Golf Academy in Albuquerque.
Santana is a 4.0 GPA student at St. Theresa’s in Albuquerque and has qualified for this year’s NB3 National Championship, which takes place each November at Koasati Pines Golf Club in Louisiana.
Aidan Thomas
Thomas admits he has a tendency to let others get close. On the final day of the tournament, Tony Mike Jr., the second-place finisher, was one shot away, but Thomas stepped up the pressure with a birdie at #8.
“This is one of the events I circle every year.” Thomas said. “The courses are so magnificent and beautiful. It’s home to me as I’ve been playing here since I was 10 years old.”
Thomas and his brother, Tyrone, grew up on the Laguna Pueblo, 45 miles west of Albuquerque, where a freight line ambles through the reservation. When Thomas was 9 years old, he and his brother, four years older, would each line up five golf balls. When a freight train rocked its way eastward, the boys would lash shots from about 140 yards.
That target practice continues to pay off. Thomas won the New Mexico Open in the summer of 2025 and recently added the Cay-Uma-Wa tournament to his list of wins, shooting a stunning 62 on the final day. This coming week, Thomas will play in the first stage in the Professional Golfers’ Association School, with the goal of receiving his PGA tour card.
Thomas faced a challenge from another talented Native golfer, Mike Jr., a Navajo professional golfer from northwestern New Mexico. Mike Jr. finished second to Thomas last year as well, and, like Thomas, is in the process of becoming a PGA professional. He competes in many regional professional events and helps coach the Farmington High School golf team.
‘A great experience’
A golf tournament the size of the Native American Open will have numerous flights.
Thomas and Mike Jr. played in what is called the Championship Flight, and other top finishers in that flight included lifetime PGA member and winner of the 2022 Deacon Palmer Award Steve McDonald, Potawatomi. McDonald was joined by notable Oklahoma golfers Robert Komahcheet lll, Comanche, and Clint Colbert, Creek.
Navajo golfer Shandiin Harper won the Women’s Championship Flight at the Native American Open tournament hosted Oct. 17-18, 2026, by the Santa Ana Pueblo. Here, she swings at Hole #5. Credit: Mark Wagner/Special to ICT
Both Mike Jr. and Thomas cite their friendship as an element that helps them keep their focus as they develop their careers in professional golf.
“Great tournament, the staff, everyone here puts on a great event,” Mike Jr. told ICT. “The course is always in great condition, it’s always a great experience. The gathering of people from all corners of the nation; it’s awesome to see everyone come together.”
On the first hole, a par five laid into the New Mexican desert, the eventual winner of the Women’s Championship Flight — Shandiin Harper — had a 200-shot out of a light rough. With a deft flip of the club, she sailed a ball up onto the back of the green for a birdie putt.
On winning her first stroke play tournament after her college career, Harper, Diné, celebrated the core values of the game of golf.
“Golf is more than a score. It teaches perseverance.” she said. “Pushing through adversity. It’s about integrity. “
As to how she pushed through a “bad day” on the first day of the tournament, Harper said, “I reset to zero. I approach each hole and each shot as a new opportunity.”
Harper has been working in player development at Sun Country Golf House, and celebrates her mentors at Santa Ana ,including Derek Gutierrez, the general manager and director of golf at the Santa Ana Golf Club. Harper also singled out Zach Hoefel, and Santa Ana golf Chairman Jay Garcia.
“ They want to see you succeed,” she said, “and they promote women in golf. I’m loving it.”
She said watching the Santa Ana staff furthers her understanding of the importance of growing the game.
Harper was pushed over the two-day tournament by last year’s winner Faylyn Beyale, Navajo, who is deputy director of First Tee-Four Corners youth development program, a bridge to opportunity for Native youth growing up on the Navajo Reservation.
Beyale had high praise for Harper’s rounds, and for the Twin Warriors golf course, which she called “A work of art. God’s Creation itself.”
Harper and Beyale are both alumnae from the Western New Mexico University’s women’s golf team, and they have something else in common: they both strive to spread golf to the younger generations.
Shandiin Harper, Navajo, of Western New Mexico University walks the golf course fairway during the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship practice round at Whistling Straits on May 4, 2025, in Kohler, Wisconsin. Credit: Ryan Lochhead/Courtesy of PGA of America
Harper cites PGA of America motto, “Grow the game.”
“That’s what I try and do every day,” Harper told ICT.
The women’s championship flight included third-place finisher Felica Weller, Taos Pueblo, and Olivia Long, Navajo and Coeur d’Alene.
“Santa Ana and Twin Warriors are home,”said Long. who is currently attending Gonzaga Prep in eastern Washington. She enjoys coming “home,” she said, as she has been part of the NB3 golf program since she was 6.
“NB3 has done so much for me and my family,” Long said. She notes her older sister, Maddison Long, is playing golf at a Division 1 program, Manhattan University.
“Playing with people from other tribes and nations — especially playing golf — is a very powerful and amazing experience,” she said.
Thanks to all
For the sixth year in a row, Santa Ana Golf Chairman Garcia and his staff had dialed in to the powers that be. A cerulean blue sky draped over the stunning landscape of Santa Ana Golf Club and Twin Warriors and the distant Sandia Mountains.
The Santa Ana Golf Club at the Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico hosts the Native American Open tournament each October. Credit: Courtesy Santa Ana Golf Club
Sitting in the ballroom as the golfers gathered, waiting for the scores to come in and be calibrated, one couldn’t help but admire Kenneth Martinez, Coeur D’Alene, posting a score of 89 over par. Likewise Gregory Arthur, Nambe Pueblo, at plus 44.
Garcia said he is proud of the atmosphere that supports that level of participation.
“It shows they like the community and the game as much as Aidan Thomas, who can shoot a 62,” Garcia said.
The last word of the tournament was given to Derek Gutierrez who held up a thank you card that Santana Parraz had sent to his staff.
“Not only a good golfer, she knows how to write in cursive,” Gutierrez said to the delight of the crowd.
He also thanked the 1,000 community owners of the Santa Ana Pueblo and sent the guests off with a blessing in the Keres language.
Kathryn Moores contributed to this report. A collegiate golfer, she is a junior at Fort Lewis College.
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