IVINS, Utah – Austin Smotherman delivered a career‑low 62 on Friday at the Bank of Utah Championship, held at the Black Desert Resort. The 9‑under round, featuring ten birdies, gave the 30‑year‑old a one‑shot lead heading into the weekend.
Milestone round in a milestone event
Playing his 100th PGA Tour event, Smotherman matched his personal best, a score he previously posted at the Cognizant Classic earlier this year and at the Bermuda Open four years ago. He made all but two of his birdies from inside 10 feet, including a 20‑footer on the par‑3 17th that capped a birdie‑birdie‑birdie finish. After 36 holes, he sat at 17‑under 125, his second 36‑hole lead of the season.
Key competitors stay within striking distance
Kevin Roy, who opened with consecutive 63s, trailed Smotherman by a single stroke after Friday’s round. Doug Ghim also posted a bogey‑free 62, sharing the low‑round honors, while Kevin Streelman carded a 65. Young talent Jackson Koivun, a 21‑year‑old who recently finished at Auburn, rallied on the final hole to secure a birdie and finish at 6‑under 136, just making the cut.
What the players said
“It was just very steady – a lot of greens, a lot of fairways, a couple tight wedges,” Smotherman said. “It’s what you’ve got to do to shoot 9 under.” Roy, currently 87th in the FedEx Cup standings, emphasized the grind: “First and foremost, keep a job. Just keep going out and play one shot at a time.” Streelman, playing on a major medical exemption, reflected on his long career: “I feel like I have nothing to lose. This is my almost 20th year, pushing 500 starts, and my family’s coming in this weekend. I’ll just try to attack and have fun.”
Implications for the FedEx Cup race
The Bank of Utah Championship is the second of eight fall events that count toward the FedEx Cup. The top 100 in the standings at season’s end retain full PGA Tour cards for the following year, while the top 60 earn entry into the $20 million signature events at Pebble Beach and Riviera. Smotherman’s surge moves him closer to those critical thresholds.
Looking ahead
After the Utah tournament, Roy will travel to Japan for the Baycurrent Classic before finalizing his schedule for the remainder of the season. Streelman, now 48, hopes to compete in several more fall events under his exemption.
Fans can follow the tournament’s progress on the PGA Tour’s official website and watch live coverage on the Golf Channel.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
