Austin Smotherman maintained his lead at the Bank of Utah Championship after completing the third round at Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah, according to a report published October 3, 2026. Smotherman posted a 65 on the hole to reach 23 under through 54 holes of play.
Smotherman currently leads the field with Doug Ghim in second at 22 under. Several players are tied for third at 18 under, including Trace Crowe, Benjamin James, and Kevin Streelman. Johnny Keefer also remains in contention at 17 under after posting a 62 on Saturday.
Amateur Kihei Akina, a former BYU standout and winner of three individual state titles at Lone Peak High School in Alpine, Utah, is also in contention after recording a 65. Akina previously set a BYU record with a 68.95 scoring average.
The tournament saw a disruption when the second round was suspended due to darkness at 7:20 p.m. local time. Both Jesper Svensson and Alejandro Tosti successfully made the cut after recording birdies on the 17th and 18th holes during the resumption of play.
Tony Finau, who missed the cut, commented on the Black Desert Resort property, noting the distinctive black lava landscape and the beauty of the state of Utah.
The Bank of Utah Championship is the second event in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Fall series. The tournament features a $6 million total purse, with the first-place winner receiving $1.08 million. Previous winners at this venue include Matt McCarty in 2024 and Michael Brennan in 2025. The Black Desert Resort course is a par 71 measuring 7,421 yards for professionals.
Weekend coverage of the Bank of Utah Championship is scheduled to be broadcast on the Golf Channel.
