Seven golfers with Utah ties are set to compete in the Korn Ferry Tour's Utah Championship at Ogden Golf & Country Club this week, featuring a field that includes former BYU stars Carson Lundell and Zac Jones. The tournament, which is held in Ogden for the second consecutive year, features a $1 million purse with $180,000 awarded to the champion.
Local Favorites Seek Breakthrough
Former University of Utah standout Mitchell Schow and Ogden native Connor Howe have both received sponsors' exemptions to compete in the PGA Tour-branded event. Schow, a 29-year-old professional who grew up in Ogden and graduated from Park City High and the University of Utah in 2021, expressed a strong desire to secure a professional tour status through a high finish.
Schow, the 2020 Utah State Amateur champion, noted that while he loves his current living situation with his in-laws in Sandy, he is laser-focused on the tournament. He stated that winning would provide the means to purchase a house. Schow, who has played at Ogden Country Club approximately 50 times, said that being able to play in Ogden on a Korn Ferry Tour stage is a gift, especially given the presence of many family and friends in the area.
Howe Eyes Omaha Opportunity
Connor Howe, who attended Weber High before a five-year career at Georgia Tech, is looking to build on recent success on the PGA Tour Americas, where he recently earned a T3 finish at the Osprey Valley Open. Howe, whose parents are longtime members of the Ogden Golf & Country Club, said that while last year's experience was surreal, he expects fewer nerves this year due to his familiarity with the course.
Howe's caddie for the event will be his brother, Hunter Howe, a former Weber State and University of Utah golfer who currently serves as a teaching professional at the Ogden facility. Howe noted that a top 25 finish would allow him to compete in the following week's Korn Ferry Tour event in Omaha, Nebraska.
Summerhays and Lundell Lead Utah Presence
The tournament features several other prominent players with Utah connections. Preston Summerhays, who grew up in Farmington and graduated from Arizona State, returns to the event with full KFT status. Summerhays, who was the top Utah-affiliated finisher in last year's tournament with a 15-under score, will be joined by his uncle, Daniel Summerhays.
Other notable players with Utah ties in the 156-player field include former Weber State golfer Barry Schenk, a resident of Sandy, and former BYU golfer Peter Kuest, though Kuest has been sidelined by an injury. The field also includes Carson Lundell and Zac Jones, both former BYU golfers who successfully navigated Monday qualifying to earn their spots.
Monday Qualifying Results
The Monday qualifying session saw high-scoring performances from several local athletes. Zac Jones recorded a 10-under 62, while Carson Lundell shot a 9-under 63 at Glen Eagle GC to secure qualification. Barry Schenk also advanced to the tournament with a 64.
Lundell enters the tournament following a recent victory at the Colorado Open, which resulted in a $50,000 payday. While new BYU golfer David Liechty from Layton narrowly missed out on qualification after losing in a playoff, the presence of former BYU stars maintains a strong connection between the tournament and the university's golf program.
Tournament History and Purse
The Utah Championship, presented by Zions Bank and Intermountain Health, is entering its second year in Ogden. The competition features a deep field of 156 players competing for a share of the $1 million total purse.
Last year's tournament at Oakridge Country Club in Farmington saw Julian Suri win with an 18-under 262. In that same event, Connor Howe recorded a final-round 64 to tie for 36th, while Mitchell Schow shot 8-under to tie for 54th, earning $4,150. Schow's performance last year followed a 11-under 37th-place tie for Howe, who earned $5,250.
Personal Stakes for Schow
For Mitchell Schow, the tournament represents more than just a competitive milestone. The 29-year-old has spent the past year playing Monday qualifiers and various mini-tour events while working part-time for his father's hardwood flooring business.
Schow will be caddied by Steve Biakanja, a friend of his father from high school, who traveled from Pleasanton, California, specifically for the event. Biakanja noted he has been caddying for Schow since the golfer was 8 years old.
Official Tournament Schedule
The tournament schedule for the week includes various tee times for the 156-player field. According to the official tournament tee times, players including Daniel Summerhays, Matthew Kress, and Jeff Overton are scheduled to compete as part of the professional field at the Ogden Golf & Country Club.
