Young stars shine as Keefer, James rise in Bank of Utah Championship

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 3, 2026, 11:29 PM

Last updated Oct 3, 2026

Young stars shine as Keefer, James rise in Bank of Utah Championship

Summary

At the 2026 Bank of Utah Championship in Ivins, Utah, four players aged 25 or younger turned in bogey-free rounds on Moving Day. Johnny Keefer, who leads this group, recorded a 9-under 62, tying his career low. Ben James and David Ford also moved up the leaderboard with 7-under 64 and 65, respectively. The tournament is currently led by veterans Austin Smotherman and Doug Ghim. The final round is set for Sunday, with Keefer looking to capitalize on his strong performance.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Johnny Keefer shot 62 to move into a tie for fifth.
•Ben James finished with a 7-under 64, tying for third.
•David Ford posted a 65 to join the top contenders.
•Amateur Kihei Akina birdied four of his last five holes.
•The final round will be held Sunday at Black Desert Resort.

Latest Updates

11:29 PMYahoo Sports — 2026 Bank of Utah Championship: Johnny Keefer, Ben James and other young stars go low in desert

What they're saying

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Moving Day at Black Desert Resort saw four players 25 years or younger complete bogey-free rounds and move into the top 20 of the leaderboard.
— Yahoo Sports

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