Austin Smotherman finished with a three-birdie burst to card a 9-under-par 62 on Friday and take a one-stroke lead halfway through the Bank of Utah Championship in Ivins, Utah.
Smotherman beat his Thursday score by one shot to get to 17-under 125, one ahead of Kevin Roy (63 on Friday) after two rounds at Black Desert Resort.
“Today it was just very steady, a lot of greens, a lot of fairways, a couple tight wedges. It’s what you got to do to shoot 9 under,” said Smotherman, who hit all 18 greens in regulation and tied his career-low round.
He already had seven birdies and a bogey on his card when he reached the par-4 16th, where he converted a 9-foot birdie putt. Smotherman stayed hot with the flat stick and made a 20-footer for birdie at the par-3 17th and then had a two-putt birdie at the par-5 18th.
The 32-year-old is seeking his first PGA Tour victory, along with access to the first two signature events of 2027. Players who finish the tour’s FedEx Cup Fall series Nos. 51-60 in the standings will qualify, and only the top 100 will keep their cards for next year.
Kevin Streelman, who shot a 64, needs a strong fall as he entered this week 151st in the points race. He is tied for third in the tournament at 15 under, level with Doug Ghim, who shot the other 62 of the day. Germany’s Stephan Jaeger (65) is fifth at 14 under.
“I would say right here I would like to attack and have nothing to lose,” said Streelman, whose last PGA Tour win came in 2014. “But will I be nervous? Of course. I’m a human being and that’s what happens when you’re close to doing something that’s meaningful to you and that’s important to you. So whether that’s excitement or nerves or, you know, freaking out whatever it is, it’s kind of all the same, it’s all in the same family.”
Roy is bogey-free through 36 holes, with five of his eight birdies Friday coming on the back nine, which he played first. At No. 87 in the standings, Roy had an easy time answering a question about his goals for the rest of the year.
“I think first and foremost, keep a job,” he said. “No, really, just keep going out and just trying to play one shot at a time and see where we stack up at the end.
Zach Bauchou, who led the tournament following a first-round 62, posted a pedestrian 69 to land at 11 under, six behind the leader.
Play was suspended due to darkness with three players yet to complete the second round.
Among the notable names in line to miss the projected cut of 6 under par are Maverick McNealy, Lucas Glover, Max Greyserman and Australian Cam Davis at 5 under; Tony Finau at 4 under; and Zach Johnson at 1 over.
Star rookie Jackson Koivun, fresh off his appearance on the victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team, holed a 6-foot birdie putt at No. 18 to shoot 67 and reach 6 under for the event, likely making the cut on the number.
“Obviously the cut got pretty deep at 6 (under) so I needed that birdie on 18,” said Koivun, 21. “But I hit a pretty good drive, it just overturned just a little bit in that bunker. Didn’t have the greatest lie. But I pulled 3-wood and I was like, ‘I’m going to go for broke here.’ Came out nicely.
“I figured if I caught it heavy or something, it would end up in the same spot as a layup. So, came out nicely. And then that chip was solid, just outside the gimmie range for the putt. It was pretty nerve-wracking, but just happy to see it go in and fighting this weekend.”
–Field Level Media
