The Bank of Utah Championship announced a new initiative to award a sponsor exemption to the winner of the Utah State Amateur Championship. This move is part of a strategic statewide partnership between Bank of Utah and the Utah Golf Association, which designates the bank as the Official Banking Partner of the Utah Golf Association.
The Bank of Utah Championship was scheduled to return to Black Desert Resort from Oct. 1-4, 2026. Bank of Utah President Branden Hansen stated that the partnership reflects a commitment to Utah golf at every level and supports the state's opportunity to host an official PGA TOUR event at Black Desert Resort.
Utah Golf Association Executive Director Easton Folster noted that the collaboration is an opportunity to elevate golf across Utah by creating connections between players, championships, and the PGA TOUR stage. Bank of Utah Championship Executive Director Ashley Dove added that the tournament aims to create pathways for the state's best players to compete at the highest level.
In addition to the tournament exemption, Bank of Utah will serve as the presenting partner for the Utah Golf Association’s player recognition programs, such as Player of the Week and Champion of the Month.
The Utah State Amateur Championship is scheduled to be held July 6-11 at Soldier Hollow Golf Course. Qualifying rounds for the championship were set to begin statewide on May 14. Previous winners of the Utah State Amateur, such as Bowen Mauss and Preston Summerhays, have previously played on sponsor exemptions in the Bank of Utah Championship.
