Austin Smotherman secured his first PGA Tour victory at the Bank of Utah Championship on Sunday at Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah, according to a October 4 report. Smotherman, a 32-year-old Sacramento-area native, finished the tournament at 26-under 258 to claim the title after 100 career starts on the PGA Tour.
Smotherman won the event by two strokes over Doug Ghim, who finished with a 69. Smotherman's final-round 3-under 68 secured the win, finishing three strokes ahead of David Ford and Trace Crowe. Throughout the week, Smotherman led the field with 32 birdies and set a 54-hole tournament record. Despite a double bogey at the 13th hole and a birdie on the 18th, he maintained his composure to edge out the field.
The victory follows a professional journey that included playing two seasons on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica and earning a PGA Tour card after finishing 25th on the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour money list. Smotherman previously faced setbacks, including failing to make the cut at the 2022 Wyndham Championship after play was suspended due to darkness.
Smotherman's career includes a history with fellow professional Bryson DeChambeau, who was a teammate at SMU and previously provided financial assistance for Smotherman's PGA Tour Q-School entry fee. Smotherman, who grew up in Loomis, California, was a self-taught player who estimates he had fewer than 10 lessons before his junior year of high school.
