FARMINGTON—For the sixth straight year, the PGA’s Korn Ferry professional golf tour will return to Davis County. The 2022 Utah Championship sponsored by Zions Bank will run Aug. 4 to 7 at Oakridge Country Club.

This year’s tournament will include at least four golfers with a local connection – at least through Brigham Young University. Farmington native and BYU graduate Daniel Summerhays, who nearly won this tournament two years ago (he lost in a playoff) and who always draws a large local contingent, was one of four golfers given sponsor exemptions. The exemptions were announced at a press conference Tuesday morning at the country club.

“It’s always exciting to be here at Oakridge and particularly to be playing here again this year,” he said. “I think this is my fourth year in a row and, being my home course, I have a lot of great memories here. I know this event has traditionally been one of the players’ favorites on the Korn Ferry Tour.”

Joining him with sponsor exemptions were two other golfers with the Cougar connection: Peter Kuest, a Fresno, California native who was an All American selection when he played at BYU; and Carson Lundell, an Alpine native who will be a fifth-year senior playing for the Cougars this coming year. Korn Ferry Tour regular Patrick Fishburn, also a BYU grad who is currently ranked 74th on the Korn Ferry Tour and coming off a 13th place finish last week in Springfield, Missouri, is in the field. He has played in the Oakridge event several times. Another BYU grad, Zac Blair, will also be in the field. He is working his way back from surgery that forced him to sit out much of last season and part of this one. He also placed 13th a week ago in Springfield.

The fourth player exemption was given to Chicago, Illinois golfer Patrick Flavin, who had two top-10 finishes in Korn Ferry events last year and is having another strong season this year.

“We love hosting the Korn Ferry Tour each year here at Oakridge,” said Jeff Robbins, President and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “We really wanted to show support for our local Utah golfers through these exemptions, giving them a chance to advance their careers.”

The Utah Championship has been the springboard for many golfers who’ve gone on to play the PGA Tour, including defending champ Joshua Creel, 2018 champion Cameron Champ, 2003 champ and two-time PGA major champion Zach Johnson and, going back to 1990 when the tournament was played at Riverside Country Club in Provo, John Daly.

Three-time PGA winner and Utah native Tony Finau, who won the 3M event in Minnesota last Sunday, is actively involved in the Utah event with his Tony Finau Foundation, and will host a pro-am event next week prior to the start of play on Thursday. There is also a Monday qualifying event at TalonsCove in Saratoga Springs where eight more player slots will be awarded for the Oakridge event.

You can learn more online at https://utahchampionship.com/. λ