Utah Locals Headline Utah Championship Field
Jun 24, 2020, 1:43 PM
Daniel Summerhays chips from the bunker onto the second green during the second round of the Barracuda Championship at Montreux Country Club on August 3, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The state of Utah will host it’s most coveted golf tournament of the year this upcoming weekend as the Korn Ferry Tour makes the annual trip out West to Oakridge Country Club where the Utah Championship will take place. A list of players, including many with Utah ties, hope to impress a spectator free Oakridge Country Club.
Daniel Summerhays
Daniel Summerhays, 36, will be competing in his last professional golf tournament after turning pro in 2007. It also just so happens to be his home track, Summerhays grew up on the hallowed grounds of Oakridge Country Club. Summerhays played his first PGA Tour tournament in 2010, he finished 8th in the 2016 U.S. Open, 6th at the Barclays in 2015 earning $9.7 million dollars along the way.
Last year, Summerhays held a share of the lead entering the final day of the tournament. Unsurprisingly, he had roughly 500 family members and friends in attendance. He finished the tournament in a 6th place with a final score of 12 under par, two shots off the eventual winner Kristoffer Ventura.
Summerhays plans on taking his talents to the classrooms of Davis High School where he will mentor and coach the fortunate teenagers of Davis County.
ONE MORE SLEEP. Professional golf returns to Oakridge Country Club tomorrow! Our opening hole is a 395-yard par-four.#UtahChampionship pic.twitter.com/T3NcgMOjsB
— Utah Championship (@UTChampionship) June 24, 2020
Patrick Fishburn
Former BYU alumni, Patrick Fishburn, is currently 30th on the Korn Ferry Tour money list through 4 events. Fishburn is currently in his first season competing on the Korn Ferry Tour after a season on the Mackenzie Tour (PGA Canada).
Fishburn’s strength is his ability to drive the golf ball, which may work in his favor at the short Oakridge Country Club. Oakridge plays at 7045 yards, but with the help of the Utah altitude, the length of the golf course plays much smaller than the number would suggest.
Preston Summerhays
In July of 2019, Summerhays, 17, won the U.S. Junior Amateur Tournament, granting him a spot in this week’s Utah Championship field. Summerhays comes from a strong golf background, his father, Boyd, acts as his coach while also assisting PGA Tour professional Tony Finau at the same time.
Preston Summerhays is the nephew of Daniel Summerhays and ironically is paired with Daniel for the first two rounds of the tournament.
Everything is looking GREAT here @UTChampionship @KornFerryTour @Oakridge_CC You gotta love the views!! @Korn_Ferry @StateofSport #shadows #reflections pic.twitter.com/ZRoM44jZc6
— The Truck (@truckkarma) June 24, 2020
Mike Weir
The 2003 Masters Champion, Mike Weir, 50, is planning on debuting in the PGA Champions Tour this year, following a very successful and luxurious stint on the PGA Tour. However, before his Champions Tour adventure starts, Weir will take part in the upcoming Utah Championship.
Between 2001 and 2005, Weir spent 110 weeks in the top 10 of the World Golf Rankings. He has won eight PGA Tour events over his career.
Weir graduated from Bringham Young University where he was pronounced a Second Team All-American in 1992.
Other Locals
A list of other players has local ties in the field. Davis High School alumni Cole Ponich is scheduled to tee off at 9:15 a.m. alongside fellow locals Daniel and Preston Summerhays. 2016 Utah Open Champion and 2017 Utah Open low pro winner Zahkai Brown will tee off at 2:20 p.m. on Thursday.
Tee times set for players with Utah ties Thursday at @ZionsBank @UTChampionship at Oakridge CC
8:25* Patrick Fishburn
9:15* Dan & Preston Summerhays, Cole Ponich
1:00* Jimmy Stanger
1:20 Mike Weir
2:20 Zahkai Brown (2x Utah Open winner)
*10th tee start #utahgolf pic.twitter.com/HZfVSYVIAs— Randy Dodson (@RandyatFairways) June 23, 2020
How To Watch
The Utah Championship can be viewed on the Golf Channel from 4-6 p.m. starting on Thursday, June 25 through Sunday, June 29.
Due to the PGA Tour’s coronavirus protocols and regulations, there will be no spectators in attendance for the event.
Golf content on sports.ksl.com is sponsored by Heber Valley Golf Courses.
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Tom Hackett is a Utah and Real Salt Lake Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the It’s Utah’s World Podcast (Utah Football themed) and The Lion’s Den Podcast (Real Salt Lake themed). Follow him on Twitter: @TomCantHackett.
