From left, LAHS 2022 Graduate and former LAHS golf team member Connor Cook, Professional Golfer, Notah Begay III, LAHS sophomore and golf team member Natalie Crawford, President/CEO of Realty One of New Mexico Mike Taylor, LAHS senior and golf team member Gabrielle Mowrer and Director of Golf and General Manager of Santa Ana Golf Club Derek Gutierrez. Photo by KayLinda Crawford/ladailypost.com
From left, Professional Golfer Notah Begay III shows LAHS golfers Connor Cook, Natalie Crawford and Gabrielle Mowrer a few details about their new PING golf clubs. Photo by KayLinda Crawford/ladailypost.com
By KayLinda Crawford
Los Alamos Daily Post
kaylindacrawford@ladailypost.com
Three Los Alamos High School Golf Team members, Connor Cook, Natalie Crawford and Gabrielle Mowrer discovered their golf equipment had been stolen from the team suburban the first morning of the 2-day 2022 NMAA State Golf Competition in May at Santa Ana Golf Course in Bernalillo (link).
The golfers tried to make the best of the situation and played with temporary replacements provided by the golf course.
Professional golfer Notah Begay III was attending the State Golf Competition, heard the bad news and offered to replace the stolen clubs saying it was a shame what happened to the young golfers, and he wanted to make it right. Monday, he presented Cook, Crawford and Mowrer with new clubs.
Los Alamos Junior Golf Booster Club Treasurer Jill Cook expressed appreciation for Begay’s kindness and generosity.
“This is just amazing. Thank you to Notah Begay III, Mike Taylor with Realty One of New Mexico and Derek Gutierrez of Santa Ana Golf Club,” Cook said. “These clubs weren’t ordinary golf clubs you buy off the rack; these clubs are custom fit for each player, top of the line Pings, manufactured at the Ping Pro factory. Even more impressive than the quality of these clubs is the generosity of this gift. The three stepped up the day our players clubs were stolen and immediately offered to replace their clubs. I know your act of compassion meant a lot to each player, our coaches and us parents. Thank you again for your generosity and support.”
Begay explained why it was important to him to help the high school athletes.
“We live in a community when sometimes tough things happen,” he said. “You have bad breaks, bad luck, and it’s so vital that we come together in these moments and support each other. When first I heard your clubs had been stolen, I was sad because it’s the State Golf Tournament, and being a competitor, I was thinking it would be such a bummer to walk to that first tee with a loaner set not knowing how far you’re going to hit your 8-iron. My second thought was ‘what can we do to support each other in this moment?’”
Begay then turned to his team at Realty One, the title sponsor of the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship, and said, “Let’s just replace these clubs”. He worked with staff at Ping Golf to get a properly fitted set for each of the athletes and assured them they were high quality golf clubs.
“Do everything you can to give back to your community,” Begay told the athletes. “I’ve been very lucky in my life. I got to play golf at Stanford University, play on the PGA tour, travel the world and now I am a golf analyst on television. My success is because of all the community support I’ve gotten, and I’ve never forgotten that. It’s something I carry around with me wherever I go. I’m always thinking about what I can do to give back and support my community and I hope you will, too.”
Editor’s note: Carol A. Clark contributed to this story.
Gabrielle Mowrer, left, LAHS senior and golf team member catches a selfie with Professional Golfer Notah Begay III. Photo by KayLinda Crawford/ladailypost.com
Connor Cook, left, and Notah Begay III admire Cook’s new clubs and talk some golf. Photo by KayLinda Crawford/ladailypost.com
Natalie Crawford, left,, LAHS sophomore and golf team member is all smiles as she stands with Professional Golfer Notah Begay III who presented her, and two teammates with new PING clubs since their equipment was stolen in May during the NMAA State Golf Competition. Photo by KayLinda Crawford/ladailypost.com