Long claims 6A medalist gold, Lone Peak runs away with team title
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- Lone Peak’s Aadyn Long (right) hugs a teammate after winning individual medalist honors at the 6A Girls State Golf Championships at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- The Lone Peak girls golf team holds up the 6A State Championship trophy at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- Lone Peak’s Aadyn Long hits a shot during the 6A Girls State Golf Championships at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- Lone Peak’s Aadyn Long watches a teammate finish a round during the 6A Girls State Golf Championships at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- The Lone Peak girls golf team does a cheer after claiming the 6A State Championship at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- Lone Peak’s Aadyn Long (center) hugs her parents after winning individual medalist honors at the 6A Girls State Golf Championships at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- Members of the Long Peak girls golf team applaud a birdie putt by teammate Aadyn Long on the 18th hole at the 6A Girls State Golf Championships at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- Lone Peak’s Aadyn Long hits a tee shot during the 6A Girls State Golf Championships at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- Lone Peak’s Saydie Wagner lines up a putt during the 6A Girls State Golf Championships at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- American Fork’s Lily Shin, left, receives a medal after tying for third place at the 6A Girls State Golf Championships at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- Lone Peak’s Saydie Wagner hits a putt at the 6A Girls State Golf Championships at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
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- Lone Peak’s Aadyn Long lines up a putt on the 18th hole during the 6A Girls State Golf Championships at Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
RIVERTON — Holes 16, 17 and 18 became separation time for Aadyn Long.
The Lone Peak sophomore birdied the final three holes at Riverbend Golf Course on Tuesday to secure individual medalist honors at the 6A Girls State Championships, sinking three pressure putts to finish -4 for the day and -2 for the tournament.
First day leader and teammate Saydie Wagner, a freshman, was second at +1. American Fork’s Lily Shin and Weber’s Remi Rawlings tied for third at +4.
In the team race, Lone Peak separated itself on Day 1 and continued to rule on Tuesday, finishing at +36 for the tournament. That was 57 strokes better than second place Corner Canyon at +93.
After nine holes on Tuesday, Rawlings surged to a one-shot lead at -1 with Long and Wagner at even par and Shin at +1. But Rawlings had a double bogey on No. 12, which opened things up for Long to close strong.
“Today I was just trying to focus on one shot at a time, taking in the moment and focusing in on what I’ve been working on with my shots,” Long said. “I was focusing on the execution rather than the result. That’s what got me through those last three holes. I was just super focused on each shot. I wasn’t thinking that I need to get a birdie. I was just saying, ‘alright, hit a good shot and get it close.’ All day I wasn’t able to make putts. But those last three went in and that was good.”
Long kept the state championship individual medal in the family: Her sister Berlin, now playing for BYU, won the title in 2022.
“I’ve learned a lot from her,” Aadyn Long said. “She was able to sit me down last night and we had a talk. Everything she said to do helped me. I feel like coming into today I had more pressure on myself than last year but I knew what I was capable of. I feel like I’ve had a rough season but coming out and being able to shoot like I did just shows how hard I’ve been working on my mental game and on my game in general.”
Derek Farr, who also coached the Lone Peak boys team to the state title in the fall, had the pleasure of coaching both Aadyn and Berlin Long.
“Their games are totally different but you can’t ask for better competitors,” he said. “Aadyn’s temperament is a little different than Berlin’s. Aadyn is just as competitive but she has a thing where things can roll off her back most of the time. She knew eventually her putts had to drop. She was hitting it well and her putts dropped when she needed them. Saydie was playing really well and putting pressure on her and Aadyn just found what she needed to do. I think there’s nothing better than experience. Aadyn went through that with Berlin last year and experience plays a huge part.”
Lone Peak led the team competition by 25 strokes after Day 1 and continued to handle their business on Tuesday. The Knights were +12 on the front nine and +6 on the back nine, finishing at +18 for the day to stay well ahead of the competition. Long and Wagner went 1-2 and sophomore Adley Nelson also finished in the top 10 in seventh place (+12). Senior Halley Woodley tied for 16th (+26) and junior Jenna Stucki finished 20th (+28).
That was awesome and it’s fun for the kids,” Farr said. “Our goal for the day was to have fun and keep it simple.
They’ve been awesome all year. I guess this was supposed to be a rebuilding year but the girls did well.
“The girls focused on what works and it’s been a process. I think they’ve enjoyed the process. Someone asked me the other day, ‘Why is Lone Peak so good at golf?’ There are probably some economic reasons because the kids have great opportunities, but they also have unbelievable work ethic. That’s the big thing that makes the difference.”
It was the school’s fifth girls state team title, adding to championships won in 2022, 2019, 2018 and 2016.
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