By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

(OLIVER, BC, May 30, 2023) — Growing up in their hometown of Christina Lake, Austin Krahn and his older twin brothers, David and Mitchell, never had trouble getting a tee time.

Their family owns the Cascade Par 3 Golf Course in Christina Lake and, not surprisingly, the three boys were handed clubs at a young age. All three of them quickly fell in love with the game and have become good players. However, the little brother is the golfing star of the family as 15-year-old Austin now regularly beats his 17-year-old brothers.

Austin bested his two siblings again — and everyone else in the field — to make some history by winning the inaugural B.C. Indigenous Men’s Championship at Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course in Oliver.

Krahn won the 36-hole event in dramatic fashion, rolling in an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to edge Cody Bailey of Prince George by one shot. Krahn hit the putt, a left-to-right breaker, a touch harder than planned,

“I was tied with Cody and he had about a 10-foot birdie putt, so I knew I had to make it,” Krahn said. “I probably hit it a little harder than I should have, but it kind of snapped at the end and went right into the middle of the hole. It would have been a good eight feet past if it didn’t hit the hole. I was lucky it went in.”

Krahn responded with a huge fist-pump when the putt dropped and then watched as Bailey just missed his putt for birdie. The championship was his.

While he is only 15, Krahn recognized the significance of his win. “It’s a privilege, especially this being the first one,” he said of a tournament that attracted 114 indigenous players aged 14 to 80 from across the province.

“I think it’s great to be representing our heritage. There are plenty of great indigenous athletes out there and I don’t think they get enough recognition for what they do. This is hopefully the first of many for this tournament.”

Krahn closed with a one-under 71 to finish the tournament at one-over par. “I felt pretty solid today,” he said. “I didn’t make too many putts the first day. I made a couple today, which felt good. My driver was pretty straight. My irons were a little iffy, but I got the job done.”

Watching it all was Austin’s dad, Gene, who caddied for his son. “The boys started golfing when they were four,” said Gene, who feels fortunate having three sons to round out a golfing foursome. “As a dad you try them in all sports. They loved baseball and golf. I can play this game with them through retirement. That makes me really happy.”

Austin said having his dad by his side made the day even more special. “He just kept me calm and in control. It’s always nice to have him around.”

Austin’s indigenous roots trace to his grandmother, who was on hand to watch her three grandsons play the first round of the tournament. “She is really proud of her heritage and my heritage is important to me,” said Austin, whose summer plans include both the B.C. Junior Boys Championship in Prince George and the B.C. Amateur Championship in Parksville.

Bailey matched Krahn’s final-round 71 to finish solo second, two shots ahead of James Baptiste of Oliver. Baptiste had the low round of the tournament, a two-under 70, in the first round.

A net Stableford event was also held and Austin Krahn’s brother, David, won that competition with 74 points. Reg Ogen, Jared Walker McMillan and Jamin Feist tied for second with 71 points. Brody Brook of Prince George won an under-19 qualifying event for the North American Indigenous Games.

Click HERE for complete results & scoring.

CHIP SHOTS: B.C. Lieutenant-Governor Janet Austin and former lieutenant governor Steven Point were on hand for the tournament’s closing ceremonies, where it was announced that next year’s B.C. Indigenous Championships will return to Nk’Mip.