MMA fighter Justin Gaethje recently took part in a celebrity golf tournament, where his performance on the green wasn`t quite as impactful as his showings in the octagon.
The former interim UFC lightweight champion finished in 56th place at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. This event is a celebrity competition featuring a mix of professional athletes, figures from movies and television, and various influencers.
Over the course of the three-day tournament (Friday through Sunday), Gaethje played in groups that included golf content creator Hally Leadbetter (who finished 20th) and former World Series champions Kevin Millar (tied for 13th), Gary Sheffield (tied for 53rd), and Chase Utley (tied for 53rd).
The tournament utilized a modified Stableford scoring system. This system awards or deducts points based on the result on each hole (such as a bogey, par, birdie, or eagle) rather than simply counting the total number of strokes like in traditional golf. Gaethje consistently placed in the middle of the field, finishing Round 1 tied for 56th, Round 2 tied for 50th, and ultimately concluding the tournament on Sunday in 56th position.
However, it wasn`t entirely a poor outing for Gaethje, as he can note that he finished higher than several prominent personalities. These included NFL legends like Emmitt Smith, Mike Vrabel, and Charles Woodson, NBA Hall of Famer and well-known golf enthusiast Charles Barkley, and comedians Ray Romano, Colin Jost, and Larry The Cable Guy.
The champion of the tournament was Joe Pavelski, an 18-season veteran of the NHL, who finished comfortably ahead of the competition with 73 points. The runner-up was Atlanta Braves legend John Smoltz, who scored 64 points.
At 36 years old, Gaethje has found time for other sports activities like golf while he awaits his next fight assignment. Since his victory over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 in March, “The Highlight” has strongly asserted his belief that he deserves to be the next challenger for the UFC lightweight title.
