Blog#403 Bank of Utah Championship

Blog#403 Bank of Utah Championship

Black Desert Resort, Ivins UT

Oct1-4, 2026 Par 71 Purse $6M

HISTORY 120 man field and is the type that will be offered on the 2028 Challengers Tour.

The course is very unusual and scenic as designer Tom Weiskopf routed holes directly through existing black lava outcrops instead of flattening the terrain. The black volcanic rock creates a dramatic contrast against the bright green turf.

FAVORITES Impossible tournament to bet on. Someone other than these top 5 will win.

1 Jackson Koivun 12/1 good choice, but should make top 10, at #62 looking to make top 50.

2 Michael Brennan 18/1 Won last year, FedX#47, won Wyndham and $3.4M total in 2026. #13.

3 Ben James 19/1 In last 5 tournaments has finished 2, 3 MC, 4,15. Earnings 2026 $1.7M.

4 Maverick McNealy 20/1 Missed cut.

5 Doug Ghim 23/1 Missed 5 of 18 cuts FedX#156.

ROUND1 *Players starting on #10.

1 Zach Bauchou-9 62 Starts and finishes with 2 birdies in bogie free RD. Finishes #13.

*2 S Yellamaraju-8 63 Starts with DB on 2nd hole#10, finishes with 5 birdies eagle. #45

Best finish 5th at The Players, missed 7 cuts in 23 tournaments 2026 earned $2.6M.

2 David Lipsky-8 bogie free 1 eagle, 6 birdies including #17 & 18. #26

2 Kevin Roy-8 63 First birdie on #7 then 5 more including #17&18 with a eagle on 12.

*2 Kevin Streelman-8 63 At 47 starts with bogie on #10, then 9 birdies including his 18th.

* Austin Smotherman-8 63 Bogie free and birdies let 3 holes.

*11 Michael Brennan-7 Six birdies in bogie free front9, but DB on #2.

*17 Ben James-6 65 Starts with bogie on his 2nd hole #11 then 1 bogie 8 birdies last on 18th.

17 Doug Ghim-6 65 Bogie free, finishes with 3 birdies.

*65 Jackson Koivun-2 69 Bogies 3 of 1st 4 holes then 5 birdies including #18.

ROUND2

1 Austin Smotherman-17 62 First and only bogie on #4 with 10 birdies, finishes with 3.

2 Kevin Roy-16 63 Second bogie free RD with 8 birdies. #32

3 Kevin Streelman-15 64 Bogie free with 7 birdies 1st 13 holes.

3 Doug Ghim-15 62 Another bogie free and ties with Smotherman for low RD.

ROUND 3

1 Austin Smotherman-23 Two bogies 1st 10 holes, then birdies 5 of last 9.

2 Doug Ghim-22 Pars 1st 6 holes then 1 bogie on #9 and finishes with 3 birdies.

3 Trace Crowe-18 Two bogies on back9 after birdies from #4 to #9 on front9.

3 Ben James-18 Bogie free but only 4 birdies.

3 Kevin Streelman-18 Triple bogie on #13 takes him out of the tournament.

FINAL ROUND As predicted Austin Smotherman, OWGR#121 wins. Jackson Koivan #65

1 Austin Smotherman-26 68 After being tied for 2nd after RD 1, he leads for the final 3 RDs and gets his 1st PGA win in 100 starts. He had 3 stroke lead thru 12 holes but a DB on #13 cuts his lead to 1 over Trace Crowe. Birdies 3 of his last 6 holes to win by 2. $1.1M

2 Doug Grim-24 69 Three bogies last 10 holes cost him a win. $654K

3 David Ford-23 64 Bogie free, only 2nd tournament since April injury. $354K

3 Trace Crowe-23 Bogies on 13&17, never closer than 1 stroke. $354K 5 Kevin Steelman-22 67 Missed 8 cuts, only other top 10 PR Open, FedX#151. $232K

5 Ben James-22 67 Second bogie free RD, 3rd top 5 in a row. $232K

7 Luke Clanton-21 62 Low RD, bogie free, best tournament of year, 10 missed cuts. $195K