LLOYD: BYU golfers get a glimpse of their Special Olympics experience at Utah Open Short-Game Challenge | News, Sports, Jobs

Anyone who gets the opportunity to play Division I college golf has to spend a tremendous amount of time on the golf course working on their skills. I’ve seen how tough that can be, both mentally and physically.

Sometimes I think it’s nice to remind them what the game is about.

That’s why I was really happy to see BYU golfer Adeline Wach and Cougar newcomer Lincoln Markham get just that chance when they took part in the annual Utah Open Short-Game Challenge for the first time, teaming up with some outstanding Special Olympics athletes to compete in a chipping and putting competition.

“I just think it’s so great because all these wonderful kids are so happy,” Wach said. “It was fun to help them with their experience and just have a good time.”

Markham told me that he had no experience with the Special Olympics program, but was excited about the opportunity to participate.

“I didn’t know much about it,” Markham said. “My partner told me he won a Special Olympics competition at Valley View Golf Course a few months ago, and I just thought, ‘This is awesome.’ It’s awesome. I love it.”

He said the most striking thing was the attitude of the Special Olympians, which I enjoy seeing every year.

“You could tell they all really enjoyed being there and they really like golf,” Markham said. “They were all super excited when they made a putt or super happy when I made a putt. Everyone was cheering. My partner told me, ‘I love golf so much. It’s my favorite sport so far.’ It’s nice to see that. Golf is a game for everyone and that’s the way it should be.”

Wach said she was excited for the chance to get to know her teammate and see how much he enjoys the game, too.

“I think he said he was 15 and he was on the high school team,” Wach said. “It was cool. He said, ‘That’s the line. That’s where we’re going.’ It was just great to show him how to read greens and the little quick stuff.”

Both Markham’s and Wach’s teams were in a five-way tie for first place, but thanks to the tiebreaker on the scorecard, Markham’s team took first place while Wach’s team took second.

“We did it,” Markham said with a grin. “It was a fun couple of holes on that putting green.”

My team didn’t quite make it into that elite group (thanks to some bad shots from me), but Kelsie and I still had a great time. She enjoys playing golf with her family, but said she enjoyed hitting her drives the most, which was irrelevant to the challenge.

Every year I learn something new and see these athletes out there trying their best and wanting to see the ball in the hole just as much as the rest of us.

But the best part is getting to know them as people. Wach said she won’t forget the opportunity to be there with the Special Olympians.

“The best part was the little small talk throughout the round,” Wach said. “It was a chance to enjoy their company. At the end I gave him a golf ball with the little BYU logo on it and I’m sure he’s going to love that thing. That was cool.”

Both Wach and Markham agreed that participating in the event with the Special Olympics athletes reminded them why they love golf.

“When you love a sport, you want someone else to love it too,” Wach said. “It’s so fun to see other people love it as much as I do, really enjoy it and enjoy the moment.”

Markham said: “It’s good to always be reminded. In golf, you get to play with so many different people at so many different levels. It’s good to be reminded that you’re there for fun. It’s a game. At the end of the day, it doesn’t go that deep.”

Markham and Wach will compete in the 2024 Utah Open, which takes place Friday through Sunday at Riverside Country Club in Provo.

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