OGDEN, Utah — In two weeks, the Utah Championship heads to Ogden—and this year’s field just got even more exciting.
Three players with strong Utah ties have earned sponsor exemptions and are set to compete at Ogden Golf & Country Club, including a high school grad making his return, a hometown favorite, and a recent BYU alum coming off his first pro win.
Here’s a look at the golfers who will be chasing a Korn Ferry Tour title:
Meet Kihei Akina — a recent Lone Peak High graduate who’s already turning heads. He’s the first golfer in Utah to win three 6A individual state titles and is headed to BYU this fall. At just 19, he made his Korn Ferry Tour debut at last year’s Utah Championship and has already teed it up on the PGA TOUR.
Meet Connor Howe — an Ogden native who’s no stranger to Ogden Golf & Country Club. After a standout career at Georgia Tech, where he helped lead the Yellow Jackets to two ACC titles, he turned pro in 2023. This summer, he’s been making noise on the GPro Tour and now he’s back home.
Meet Cole Ponich — a Farmington native and recent BYU grad who’s making moves. He turned pro just last month and already picked up his first win at Primo Provo Open. After Monday qualifying into the field last year, he returns to the course where he won the 2024 Utah State Amateur.
The Utah Championship arrives at Ogden Golf & Country Club July 31 – August 3. It’s a week of golf you won’t want to miss.