Martín León Wins 123rd Utah State Amateur Championship
HIGHLAND, Utah – Current Utah golfer Martín León won the 123rd Utah State Amateur Championship today after beating teammate Blake Tomlinson in the 36-hole match play final taking place at Alpine Country Club.
León, who entered the tournament as the No. 63-seed, became the first international winner in the tournament's 123-year history after coming away victorious in the third playoff hole against Tomlinson. It was the second year in a row and fourth time in the tournament's history that the final round was an all Utah Golf affair after former Ute Mitchell Schow walked away victorious against Tomlinson in 2020.
Congratulations to our own @UtesGolf Martín León for winning the Utah State Amateur Championship ??
Also congratulations to Blake Tomlinson on a 2nd place finish ??#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/9TVuIgyskD
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) July 17, 2021
"It was amazing to have both Blake and Martín in the final," Utah head golf coach Garrett Clegg said. "They both played incredible tournaments. I am extremely impressed by Martín's play and how far his game has come this year. The State Amateur is the most prestigious tournament in the state of Utah. For us to have both of the players in the final is awesome."
The two golfers that represented the Utes in the finals made their way through the brackets that started on July 12, competing among 288 total players. Former Ute Colton Tanner and current Ute Oscar Maxfield also made the Round of 64, with Tanner beating the stroke-play medalist Nick Nelson to advance before falling in the Round of 32.
In the final round, Leon got out to a quick start by going up two in the front nine before Tomlinson was able to cut it back to one four holes into the back nine. Leon was able to win the first 18 holes after claiming a birdie on hole 16, grabbing some momentum heading into the next round.
The second 18 would be all Tomlinson, winning four of the final eight holes, including an eagle on the 13th to tie it up and send the championship round into extra holes. After both golfers got par on the first two playoff holes to remain tied, León was able to make par once again, forcing Tomlinson to attempt a 12-foot putt for par, narrowly missing with León claiming the tournament win.