The Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort, Utah’s annual PGA Tour event, has extended sponsor exemptions to four Utah natives and rising young golf stars to compete in the event Oct. 23-26.
Each year, the championship reserves sponsor exemptions to provide opportunities for promising players who have not yet qualified for the field. This year’s selections — BYU freshman Kihei Akina, Korn Ferry Tour professional Connor Howe, Utah Tech University freshman David Liechty and 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur champion Preston Summerhays — represent Utah’s next generation of elite golfers. They will compete against the world’s best professionals as part of the 132-player field.
From Day 1, it mattered to us that this championship create real opportunities for Utah golfers,” Patrick Manning, managing partner of Black Desert Resort, said in a release. “These exemptions are about showcasing local talent on a national stage and inspiring the next generation here at home.”
Added Branden Hansen, president of Bank of Utah: “As title sponsor, Bank of Utah is proud to see local athletes get the chance to compete on a national stage. Their determination and success on the course embody the opportunity and growth we strive to create off the course — helping Utahns build their financial futures, strengthen their communities and open doors for all of Utah. We’re excited to see the community rally behind these players and cheer them on during tournament week.”
Akina, a resident of Alpine and a Lone Peak High School graduate, is a freshman on the men’s golf team at BYU this year. Akina was granted a sponsor exemption to the Black Desert Championship in 2024 and missed the cut by one stroke.
Howe is a native of Ogden and a Weber High School graduate. A two-time All-ACC honoree at Georgia Tech, he made his professional debut in 2024 and has made 18 starts in the Korn Ferry Tour the last two seasons.
Liechty is a freshman on the men’s golf team at Utah Tech and a 2023 graduate of Layton High School who put his golf career on hold to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Liechty finished runner-up at the 2023 Utah State Amateur and advanced to the semifinals this year. Liechty won the 2022 Southern Utah Open, the 2023 Utah Copper Rock Amateur and the 2023 Utah Glenmoor Amateur.
Summerhays is a native of Farmington and a 2025 graduate of Arizona State who has made 10 PGA Tour starts. The 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, Summerhays also won the Utah Amateur in 2018 and 2019, and played in the U.S. Open in 2020 and 2021. His uncle Daniel played on the PGA Tour from 2011-18, and his sister, Grace, was an All-Pac-12 Conference First Team selection at Arizona State who became the youngest winner of the Utah Women’s State Amateur in 2020.
The tournament came to Black Desert last October, the first PGA Tour event in Utah in over 60 years. Tickets and VIP opportunities for the Bank of Utah Championship are officially on sale at www.bankofutahchampionship.com.