The first-ever UGA Salt Lake Junior State Amateur Championships names two champions

Salt Lake City, Utah – For the first time ever, the Utah Golf Association hosted the boys’ and girls’ UGA Utah Junior State Amateur Championships.

Two winners were crowned today at the competition, which took place at Wasatch State Park.

Lincoln Markham of St. George defeated Lance Laughton of Mountain Green in the boys’ division. After losing the second hole, Markham picked up momentum, making birdies and pars to get ahead.

In his final year of eligibility, he easily won the seven-and-six match, taking home the inaugural UGA Utah Junior State championship.

According to Markham, the event will probably still be played in the future years.

“I mean there’s … there’s great players in it this year and I’m sure there will be for years to come,” Markham said. “So, yeah, it feels good, especially because it is my last year trying to play in this event.”

Aiden Long of Lone Peak High School and 16-year-old California golfer Ashley Gettleman were the winners of the UGA Utah Girls Junior State. Aiden Long led the whole front nine, and at the turn, she had a three-hole lead.

However, Ashley gained momentum and overtook him when the tide shifted. Her round, she said, was like riding a roller coaster.

“Just up and down, but I think I stayed pretty positive,” Gettleman said. “I was kind of getting mad on the front nine, but I think it’s I think it’s good (to) get mad because I feel like I play better and it shows you have heart.”

Gettleman won two and one after rallying from behind to finish the match on the seventeenth hole. For someone who has only been playing competitive golf for two years, not too terrible.

“I played like every single sport you can imagine growing up. I played like travel basketball, soccer. I played competitive tennis really long time. I’m a black belt martial arts,” Gettleman said. “So, yeah, I just did every sport but golf. So then after COVID, I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I’ll try golf.’ It was kind of the sport I sucked at the most, so I thought it was fun.”