IVINS, Utah – The PGA TOUR’s Bank of Utah Championship has awarded a sponsor exemption to Bowen Mauss, the 2026 Utah State Amateur Championship winner. The championship concluded today at Soldier Hollow Golf Course in Midway, Utah.
Mauss, who will be a sophomore at Arizona State University this fall, defended his title and won the championship for the second consecutive year. Mauss defeated Cameron Crawford 9 & 7 and won the title on the 29th hole of the match. He became the first repeat winner of the event since Preston Summerhays in 2018 and 2019.
With the exemption for winning the state amateur, Mauss will play in the Bank of Utah Championship for the second time. He played in the 2024 event as a sponsor exemption. The Bank of Utah Championship will bring PGA TOUR stars to Black Desert Resort for the third straight year October 1-4, 2026.
Earlier this year, Bank of Utah and the Utah Golf Association announced a strategic partnership that positions the bank as the “Official Banking Partner of the Utah Golf Association,” with the Bank of Utah Championship serving as a platform for elevating Utah golfers and the sport statewide.
“We’re proud to see our partnership with the Utah Golf Association create opportunities for the state’s top golfers,” said Benjamin F. Browning, CEO of Bank of Utah. “We’re excited to welcome Bowen to the Bank of Utah Championship and watch him represent Utah while competing against the world’s best on the PGA TOUR stage at Black Desert Resort.”
Mauss, a native of Draper and a graduate of Dorner Cayon High School, shot one over par in the stroke play portion of the state amateur. He secured victories of 5 & 3, 6 & 5 and 3&2 before needing to go to 19 holes in the quarterfinals against 2023 state amateur finalist David Liechty David Liecthy, who played in the Bank of Utah Championship last year as a sponsor exemption. In the semis, Mauss beat KJ Ofahengaue, 3 & 2.
“Congratulations to Bowen on an outstanding performance to capture the Utah State Amateur Championship,” said Easton Folster, Executive Director of the Utah Golf Association. “He played so well this week and is deserving of the opportunity to play in the Bank of Utah Championship in October. Our partnership with the Bank of Utah provides an environment for elevating golf across Utah while creating stronger connections between our players, championships and the PGA TOUR stage. We will be thrilled to watch Bowen compete against some of the best professionals in the world.”
Since its inception, the Bank of Utah Championship has proudly supported Utah’s thriving golf community by extending sponsor exemptions to deserving players with local ties. Mauss, the 2025 Utah State Amateur champion, and Summerhays played on sponsor exemptions in 2024 and 2025, respectively. This partnership further reinforces the tournament’s commitment to developing and showcasing Utah’s top golf talent on the national stage.
“Congratulations to Bowen on an incredible week and a well-deserved Utah State Amateur Championship,” said Ashley Dove, Executive Director of the Bank of Utah Championship. “One of the things we’re most proud of is creating opportunities for Utah’s best players to compete on a national stage. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Bank of Utah Championship this October, where he’ll have the chance to test his game against some of the world’s top professionals and experience the next step in his competitive journey.”
In addition to the tournament exemption, Bank of Utah serves as the presenting partner of the Utah Golf Association’s player recognition programs, including Champion of the Month and Player of the Week. These awards celebrate the achievements of local golfers all year long, allowing Bank of Utah and the Utah Golf Association to share the stories of talented players across the state.
Tickets for the 2026 Bank of Utah Championship are on sale now at BankofUtahChampionship.com.
About Bank of Utah
Founded in Ogden in 1952, Bank of Utah has been part of the state’s story for more than 70 years. We’ve supported small businesses and helped individuals and families build their futures in communities across Utah — from quiet mountain towns to thriving city centers. With 20 full-service branches, dedicated trust teams, and mortgage specialists throughout the state, Bank of Utah provides personal service and forward-thinking financial tools. The bank’s comprehensive offerings include business and personal banking, mortgage and commercial lending, personal and corporate trust services, and wealth management and investment services.
Recognized as one of the Top 20 U.S. Community Banks of 2025 by S&P Global Market Intelligence and named Utah’s Best Bank by GOBankingRates in 2025, Bank of Utah blends local insight with award-winning strength. Whether it’s the little details in a banking experience or the big moments in life, Bank of Utah is here to help Utahns succeed. Our commitment is to remain strong, trustworthy, advanced, secure and appreciative — to work side by side with clients on their financial journeys, so they can confidently say: “This is my Utah. Bank of Utah is my bank.” Learn more at bankofutah.com or call 801-409-5000.
About Utah Golf Association
The Utah Golf Association, the governing body of amateur golf in Utah, is a not-for-profit organization whose objective is to protect, grow and enhance the game of golf by providing golfers of all abilities and classifications the opportunity to play, serve and compete by way of a UGA membership. The UGA was officially incorporated in 1966, but its history dates back to 1899 when the very first Utah State Amateur Championship was held. The Utah State Amateur is proudly recognized as the “Oldest Continuously Held Golf Tournament in the World.”
More information about the Utah Golf Association can be found at UGA.org.
About Black Desert Resort
Set amidst the vermillion sandstone cliffs and striking black lava beds of Greater Zion, Black Desert Resort is a premier destination for luxury hospitality, golf, and outdoor adventure. Anchored by a Tom Weiskopf-designed championship golf course, the resort is home to the PGA TOUR’s Bank of Utah Championship, the only Utah event on the TOUR. In addition, the Greater Zion Cup, a premier Carvana PPA Tour event, is held on the property’s newly designed championship pickleball courts. The Resort Center features 549 rooms and suites, seven dining venues, a 15,000-square-foot spa, state-of-the-art pickleball courts, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and 45,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Expansion plans include additional pickleball courts, a water park, and more accommodations, dining, and entertainment options. Spanning over 600 acres, the resort offers access to 200+ acres of preserved land and six miles of hiking trails.
Reef Capital Partners is a vertically integrated real estate investment, development, and operations firm dedicated to enhancing communities through transformative and impactful projects across North America. Its portfolio includes marquee destinations such as Black Desert Resort, Marcella Club, Cornerstone Golf Club, Tributer Resort, Cormont, and Sweetens Cove. Learn more at www.reefcp.com.
About Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort
Following its historic debut in 2024 — the first PGA TOUR event held in Utah in more than 60 years — the Bank of Utah Championship will return to Black Desert Resort in Southern Utah’s Greater Zion region Oct. 1-4. Tickets and VIP opportunities for the Bank of Utah Championship are officially on sale at www.bankofutahchampionship.com.
Media contacts:
BZA PR, Bank of Utah Championship, blackdesert@bzapr.com
Mark Fredrickson, SnappConner PR for Bank of Utah, mark@snappconner.com
Easton Folster, Executive Director, Utah Golf Association, easton@uga.org
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