Austin Smotherman fired a 9-under 62 to grab the Bank of Utah Championship lead, while Jackson Koivun survived the cut and Tony Finau missed the weekend in Utah
Austin Smotherman turned Black Desert Resort into a birdie factory Friday, firing a 9-under 62 to take control of the Bank of Utah Championship heading into the weekend.
Smotherman reached 17-under 125 through 36 holes, one shot ahead of Kevin Roy and two clear of Doug Ghim and Kevin Streelman.
The 31-year-old is making his 100th PGA Tour start and continues to chase the first victory of his career.
He gave himself plenty of chances in the second round, making 10 birdies and closing with three straight to grab the outright lead. Eight of those birdies came from inside 10 feet.
“It was just very steady ... a lot of greens, a lot of fairways, a couple tight wedges,” Smotherman said. “It’s what you’ve got to do to shoot 9 under.”
The 62 matched the lowest round of his PGA Tour career and gave Smotherman his second 36-hole lead of the season.
He was also out front midway through the Cognizant Classic earlier this year before eventually finishing tied for second.
Roy is keeping the pressure on after opening with consecutive 63s. His 126 total is the best 36-hole score of his PGA Tour career by five shots, and the timing couldn’t be much better.
Roy entered the week fighting to improve his FedExCup Fall position and secure his playing status for 2027.
Ghim also shot 62 Friday and has yet to make a bogey through two rounds. Streelman, meanwhile, added a 65 to join him at 15-under.
The biggest battle Friday came much farther down the leaderboard.
Jackson Koivun arrived at the par-5 18th needing birdie to stay for the weekend. After finding a fairway bunker off the tee, Koivun attacked with a 5-wood, navigated the lava-rock trouble surrounding the hole and eventually converted a 6-foot birdie putt.
His 67 moved him to 6-under 136, exactly on the cut line.
Tony Finau wasn’t as fortunate. The Utah native missed the cut and won’t play the weekend at Black Desert.
With two rounds remaining, Smotherman has put himself in position to turn another strong week into something he hasn’t yet accomplished on Tour: a victory.
