KINDER, LA – The Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship (NB3 JGNC) Series returns for its seventh year to the Koasati Pines golf course at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, LA, with the Girls National Championship taking place November 1–3, 2026, followed by the Boys National Championship November 6–8, 2026. This year’s championship brings together junior golfers from across the globe, new events from title sponsor Skechers, and a celebration of founder Notah Begay III, the newly named recipient of the PGA Tour’s 2026 Payne Stewart Award.
“Every year, these young golfers remind me why we started this championship,” said Notah Begay III, founder and namesake of the NB3 JGNC Series. “They come from all over the world for the chance to compete on a national stage and be seen by college coaches. Creating those opportunities for the next generation is what this game is about, and there is no better place to do it than Coushatta.”
NB3 JGNC continues to be one of the most competitive and inclusive junior golf platforms in the world, drawing young athletes from across the U.S. and around the world. For 2026, more than 3,500 junior golfers ages 10 to 18 competed for 320 championship spots through a three-stage qualifying process.
“Each year, we are proud to welcome these young athletes and their families to Koasati Pines and Coushatta,” said David Sickey, Chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. “We also congratulate Notah on receiving the Payne Stewart Award, an honor that reflects the character and generosity he has demonstrated throughout his career.”
The 2026 championship also marks a milestone year for its founder. In July, Begay was named the 29th recipient of the PGA Tour’s Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company, which honors character, charity and sportsmanship. A four-time PGA Tour winner and Golf Channel analyst, Begay was recognized in August at the Tour Championship in Atlanta for his work through the NB3 Foundation, which he founded in 2005 to support Native American youth.
