Austin Smotherman has surged to the top of the Bank of Utah Championship after firing a brilliant nine-under 62 in the second round at Black Desert Resort.
Smotherman produced 10 birdies, including three in a row to finish, to reach 17-under through 36 holes and take a one-shot lead over Kevin Roy. His rounds of 63 and 62 have him at 125 for the tournament as he chases a first PGA Tour victory.
“It was just very steady — a lot of greens, a lot of fairways, a couple tight wedges,” Smotherman said.
Roy is his nearest challenger at 16-under after matching opening rounds of 63. The 38-year-old is still seeking his first PGA Tour win and has played the opening 36 holes without a bogey.
Kevin Streelman and Doug Ghim share third at 15-under, two shots behind Smotherman. Ghim matched Smotherman’s 62 on Friday, while Streelman added a 64 to his opening 63.
The second round was suspended because of darkness with three players still needing to finish, while the cut was sitting at six-under. Play was scheduled to resume on Saturday morning before the third round begins.
Among those surviving the cut was rising American star Jackson Koivun.
Fresh from his Presidents Cup appearance at Medinah, Koivun needed a birdie at the par-five 18th and delivered, holing from six feet to complete a four-under 67 and reach six-under, right on the cut line.
Tony Finau was among the notable players to miss the weekend.
The tournament forms part of the FedExCup Fall, adding further importance for players battling to secure full PGA Tour status for 2027.
Smotherman entered the week 79th in the standings, while Roy was 87th, meaning a big weekend could significantly strengthen their positions inside the top 100.
Black Desert provides one of the PGA Tour’s most distinctive settings, with the Tom Weiskopf-designed course weaving through black lava fields and Utah’s red-rock landscape. The par-71 layout measures 7421 yards for the tournament and was the final course designed by Weiskopf.
There is US$6 million in prize money on offer this week, with US$1.08 million going to the champion.
