Klasse Survives Belnap’s Back-Nine Charge at Bountiful Ridge

With a back-nine run at Bountiful Ridge Golf Course, Steph Belnap did everything she could to alter the seemingly inevitable outcome of the 34th Senior Women’s State Amateur.

In the end, though, Leigh Klasse became the latest winner of a Utah Golf Association event that has turned into the Kareen & Crew Invitational in the middle of this decade.

USGA legend and Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame member Leigh Klasse holds the championship trophy after winning the 34th playing of the Utah Senior Women’s State Amateur at Bountiful Ridge Golf Course.

After being 5 up at the turn of the 18-hole match Sept. 17, Klasse held on for a 1-up victory. So it could be said that Kareen Larson, the General Manager of TalonsCove Golf Club, is responsible for producing the last three winners, via her network of friends from winter competition in Arizona. Robin Krapfl, Larson herself and now Klasse, a notable player in the United States Golf Association and a member of the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame, have held the trophy.

“This is special,” Klasse said. “I haven’t won a tournament in a long time. … This was a good, competitive tournament to play in to get ready for next week.”

The U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in Portland, Oregon, will mark her remarkable 64th appearance in a USGA championship, during the week of her 67th birthday.

Keeping hope alive, two-time Utah Women’s State Amateur champion Steph Belnap plays from a greenside bunker during the championship match. Belnap got up and down for par on the 17th hole stretching the final match to the 18th hole.

She completed a successful tuneup only after Belnap extended her to No. 18. Belnap, the girls golf coach of Farmington High School and the 2025 UGA Co-Senior Women’s Player of the Year (with Larson), won four holes on the back nine. And she nearly forced extra holes. A 25-foot, downhill birdie putt from the fringe lipped out of the hole on the par-5 No. 18, where Klasse’s par was good for a tie of the hole and a victory in the match.

“It did not come easy,” Klasse said. “Steph put up quite the battle. She played the back nine awesome.”

So ended a four-day competition with a unique format among UGA tournaments: two rounds of stroke play and three rounds of match play. The group of quarterfinalists was deep and talented; as Klasse said, “Any one of them could win.”

Klasse was the co-medalist and No. 2 seed. She began match play by defeating seven-time champion Annette Gaiotti, who’s 73, then downed her friend Larson 4 and 3 in the morning semifinals. Belnap, the No. 5 seed, won No. 18 with a par to top No. 1 Molly Steffes (another member of the Kareen Crew). Steffes had survived the quarterfinals vs. 2023 champion Nuny Khamken by winning the last four holes.

Molly Steffes added co-medalist honors at the 34th Utah Senior Women’s State Amateur to an already strong 2026 season that included a victory at the Utah Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship.

The other quarterfinalists were No. 4 Sharon Briggs and No. 6 Terry Hansen, a four-time winner of the Women’s State Amateur.

A familiar name returned to UGA competition as 2013 champion and four-time Utah Women’s State Amateur winner Terry Hansen advanced to the quarterfinals at Bountiful Ridge.

Klasse didn’t have to play beyond No. 16 in her first two matches and nearly ended the afternoon duel with Belnap on that par-3 hole. But her birdie attempt barely skirted the hole. Belnap then won No, 17 as Klasse made a double bogey, but the champion regrouped nicely to par the last hole and take the title.

Click here for complete bracket scoring from the Utah Senior Women’s State Amateur championship.

Tournament recap story written by Fairways Media senior writer Kurt Kragthorpe. Photography by Fairways Media Randy Dodson and Garrit Johnson.

Leigh Klasse Introduces Herself with Opening-Round Lead at Utah Senior Women’s State Amateur

A look at the opening-round leaderboard of this week’s Utah Senior Women’s State Amateur raises an obvious question for some Utah golf fans: Who is Leigh Klasse?

UGA regulars may recognize the name from this year’s Women’s Spring Open, where Klasse teamed with former Senior Women’s State Amateur champion Robin Krapfl to finish fourth. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll find a player whose name is already well known in Minnesota and Arizona golf circles.

Leigh Klasse has earned multiple honors from the Minnesota and Arizona golf associations for her play, highlighted by her induction into the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame in 2014.

Klasse is a multiple-time player of the year and senior women’s state amateur champion whose competitive résumé spans both states. She was inducted into the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame in 2014.

Her goal this week at Bountiful Ridge Golf Course isn’t about introducing herself to Utah golf. It’s about getting through-36 holes of stroke play and earning one of eight spots in Wednesday’s championship match-play bracket.

Klasse already has a strategy in mind if she gets there.

“I don’t hit it long so my goal in match play is to bore my opponent to death. Just make pars,” Klasse said.

So far, that approach is working just fine.

Defending champion, Kareen Larson, is one-shot back heading into Tuesday’s final round of stroke play qualifying.

Klasse set the early pace Monday at Bountiful Ridge, opening with a 1-over 73 to take a one-shot lead over defending champion Kareen Larson. Larson posted a 2-over 74, with Molly Steffes, this year’s Senior Women’s Stroke Play champion, third at 4-over 76. Sharon Briggs and Steph Belnap share fourth after rounds of 5-over 77, leaving the top five separated by just four shots heading into Tuesday.

The second round will complete the 36-hole stroke-play portion of the championship, where net and gross prizes will be awarded, and determines the eight players advancing to match play. Quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, followed by Thursday morning’s semifinals and the championship match Thursday afternoon at Bountiful Ridge GC.

Click here for the complete leaderboard.

Story and photos provided by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson. 

Bank of Utah Championship Trophy Tour Makes a Stop with the UGA

The Bank of Utah Championship Trophy Tour presented by SkyWest, Inc. traveled across Utah Sept. 8-10, celebrating the people and organizations making a difference in their communities as the state prepares for the return of PGA TOUR golf to Black Desert Resort Oct. 1-4.

Hosted by Black Desert Resort and Bank of Utah, the multi-day tour centered around a simple question: “What makes a champion?”

The trophy served as a visual thread connecting people and communities across the state, with Utahns sharing their perspectives on the qualities that define a champion. The tour highlighted the idea that champions are not only found on a golf course, but also in schools, workplaces and communities — from teachers and mentors to volunteers, employees, community leaders and young people driving positive change.

That connection to champions extends to Utah golf. Through Bank of Utah’s partnership with the Utah Golf Association, 2026 Utah State Amateur champion Bowen Mauss earned a sponsor exemption into next month’s Bank of Utah Championship. Mauss won his second consecutive State Amateur title in July at Soldier Hollow Golf Course, becoming the first player since Preston Summerhays in 2019 to successfully defend the championship. The exemption gives one of Utah’s top amateurs the opportunity to compete against a PGA TOUR field on home soil.

“This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to continue elevating golf across Utah while creating stronger connections between our players, championships and the PGA TOUR stage,” said Easton Folster, Executive Director of the Utah Golf Association.

“The Bank of Utah Championship trophy embodies Utah’s strength, and the tour celebrates the people and organizations statewide creating opportunities and strengthening their communities,” said Benjamin F. Browning, Chairman and CEO of Bank of Utah. “As title sponsor, we were honored to have the tour begin in Ogden, where our story began nearly 75 years ago, and to see it travel through the communities we serve. Its journey reflects the same spirit of connection and celebration that defines this tournament.”

SkyWest, Inc. served as presenting sponsor of the 2026 Trophy Tour, helping connect the trophy and the stories behind it as the tour traveled from northern to southern Utah.

“SkyWest is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of the Bank of Utah Championship Trophy Tour and help connect the stories of champions across our home state,” said Chip Childs, President and CEO of SkyWest, Inc. “For more than 50 years, Utah has been home to SkyWest, and connecting people and communities is at the heart of what we do. We’re excited to help take this journey across the state, celebrate the people who make a difference in their communities and ultimately help welcome the trophy — and the excitement of the PGA TOUR — to Black Desert Resort.”

The 2026 trophy was once again designed and crafted by O.C. Tanner, a global leader in employee recognition known for creating custom awards for some of the world’s biggest stages.

In addition to helping organizations around the world build thriving workplace cultures through employee recognition solutions, O.C. Tanner has a long history of designing and manufacturing iconic custom awards. The Salt Lake City-based company created the medals for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and has produced commemorative rings for Team USA Olympic and Paralympic athletes since 2000. For more information, visit https://www.octanner.com/

Drawing inspiration from the wind-sculpted lava rock that surrounds Black Desert Resort, the trophy incorporates a bunker-style notch — modeled after Black Desert’s iconic 18th green — that functions as a natural handle. Curved lines reflect the region’s signature wind patterns, while topographic contours honor its origin in Ivins, Utah.

The green accents symbolize both the vibrant, well-manicured course and Bank of Utah’s brand color, while the trophy’s black exterior reflects the dramatic basaltic lava fields of Black Desert. The design thoughtfully unites Bank of Utah’s identity with the raw beauty and distinctive landscape of Southern Utah.

(L-R) UGA staff members Chase Hansen, Lisa Imamura (holding the Bank of Utah Championship trophy), Easton Folster and UGA Board Member Dan Horner.

Throughout its journey across the state, the Trophy Tour highlighted community and charitable partners whose work is making an impact across Utah. From supporting students and families to introducing young people to the game of golf, each stop provided an opportunity to recognize the people and organizations strengthening their communities.

That spirit of achievement carries through to the competition at Black Desert Resort. In each of the tournament’s first two years, the eventual champion arrived at Black Desert seeking his first PGA TOUR victory and left as a PGA TOUR winner. Both the 2024 and 2025 champions earned their first career PGA TOUR titles at the Bank of Utah Championship, establishing the tournament as a stage for breakthrough moments and career-defining victories.

“The Trophy Tour is about far more than the trophy itself—it’s about celebrating what it truly means to be a champion and recognizing the people who embody that spirit every day,” said Ashley Dove, executive director of the Bank of Utah Championship. “With the support of Bank of Utah, SkyWest Inc., and our incredible partners, the Trophy Tour is bringing that spirit to communities across Utah and officially kicking off the countdown to tournament week. In just a few short weeks, the trophy will return to the world stage at the Bank of Utah Championship, where the world’s best golfers will compete for the honor of raising it and being crowned our next champion.”

Click here for tournament information and tickets for the 2026 Bank of Utah Championship.

Shane McMillan Holds On at Mountain Dell

After all the twists and turns in the final match of the 33rd Utah Senior State Amateur Championship, the biggest surprise was that a routine par ended the duel.

Afterward, Shane McMillan seemed more shocked than anyone else after the way he steadied himself Thursday, amid the volatility of his eventual 1-up victory over Matt Seppanen at Mountain Dell Golf Course.

33rd Utah Senior State Amateur champion, Shane McMillan.

In a contest between financial planners, let’s label what happened as a stock market correction, followed by more ups and downs. McMillan was 4 up through seven holes, then Seppanen won four of the next seven holes to pull even. Through all the upheaval, McMillan never trailed. He won No. 15, lost No. 16 to a birdie, won No. 17 by executing a tricky chip to save par and played No. 18 solidly to earn the trophy and experience a feeling he described as “pure joy, just excitement; it’s hard to believe.”

He’s a two-time Senior Men’s Player of the Year (2022 and ‘23) in the Utah Golf Association, but winning a significant senior tournament meant everything to him. “It’s magical,” said McMillan, 57, who lives in Bountiful and played one year of golf for Utah State. His best years in the game have come in his 50s.

Runner-up, Matt Seppanen

His opponent was a Northwestern University teammate of veteran pro golfer Luke Donald and chased pro golf himself for a while before settling into a financial career. “My Northwestern Wildcat game is 30 years old. So that was balata balls and persimmon woods and forged irons,” said Seppanen, 50. “It’s just good to be out competing again, honestly. .. I tried to push him as much as I could, after the start I got off to.”

Seppanen, who works in Park City and is a Glenwild Golf Club member, certainly made McMillan work for the win. McMillan won a Senior title with Matthew Lyons in the 2023 Utah Four-Ball Championship, after losing to Brigham Gibbs in the Senior State Am final that summer.

In becoming a UGA individual winner,  “I went through a lot of emotions out there,” McMillan said.

When he suddenly was tied after 14 holes, he said, “I’m like, ‘Things aren’t going well. This is what you want to avoid.’ But I hung in there and made some really good shots coming in.”

SUPER-SENIORS

If there’s a Big Four in Utah Super-Senior (60-over) golf, Guy Child and Dan Dent teamed up to beat the whole foursome at Mountain Dell. Child knocked off Rick Lloyd and Mike Jorgensen; Dent took out defending champion Mark Gardiner and two-time Player of the Year Randy Hicken.

So either of them was going to be a deserving champion. That turned out to be Child, thanks to a winning par on No. 18 for a 1-up victory. Dent had won the par-3 No. 17 with a par, tying the match.

2026 Super Senior State Amateur champion, Guy Child.

Child, a Price resident, is back in Utah after living in Oklahoma for four-plus years. “It doesn’t get any better than golf (competition) In Utah,” he said. “To beat the quality of players that come out and play in UGA events, you’ve done something.”

Child earned the No. 7 seed in the 16-golfer bracket. “It was crazy how good I was hitting it,” he said, “and I couldn’t get any putts to go in.” Entering match play, he told himself, “Keep hitting it solid, because it frustrates people when you’re hitting it that good.”

He added, “Pars win a lot of matches, as we just proved.”

Child’s first UGA title came in the Senior division of the Utah Four-Ball Championship with the late Kurt Jamison as his partner.

Dent, 60, is a former director of Salt Lake City Golf. He returned to tournament play after a long absence and made a remarkable run of his own. Dent beat Keith McLaughlin, Gardiner and Hicken without having to play No. 18, which he bogeyed in the final match.

LEGENDS

Dan Parkinson’s extended family can claim a remarkable distinction in the Utah golf season of 2026, with important victories at each end of the age scale.

Parkinson earned the Legends (70-over) title at Mountain Dell with a 5-and-3 victory over Rob Martin. His win came a couple of months after he caddied his grandson, Jakoby Jones, to a victory in the Boys 10-under division of the Utah State Junior Amateur, conducted by the Utah Junior Golf Association,

Legends division champion, Dan Parkinson.

Parkinson delivered the best ending of the three final matches, chipping in for a birdie on the par-4 No. 15. The irony is that shot came after he was prematurely declared the winner on the previous green, while actually being 4 up with four holes to play.

At that point, Parkinson said, “I thought, ‘There’s no way I’m winning, I’m jinxed.’ “ But he ended up winning by a bigger margin, thanks to the clinching chip. “I just hit it perfect; couldn’t have been better.”

Parkinson won a Super-Senior title in 2019 at Talisker Golf Club, before losing to Craig Wilson in the 2023 final at Alpine Country Club, his home course.

Feature story written by Fairways Media senior writer Kurt Kragthorpe. Photos by Fairways Media art director Garrit Johnson.

Utah’s Kihei Akina Named to USA Walker Cup Team

Kihei Akina, 19, of Alpine, Utah; Ryder Cowan, 21, of Edmond, Okla.; Josiah Gilbert, 21, of Millbrook, Ala.; William Jennings, 20, of Greenville, S.C.; Stewart Hagestad, 35, of Newport Beach, Calif., and Jay Leng Jr., 20, of San Diego, Calif., were named to the 2026 USA Walker Cup Team by the USGA Teams Selection Committee working group on Sunday August 16th to complete the 10-player team.

Kihei Akina 02/22/2025 USNDP Training Camp (USGA)

The six players join Ethan Fang, Miles Russell, Preston Stout and Tyler Watts, all of whom were previously named to the team last month. The USA Team will compete against Great Britain and Ireland in the 51st Walker Cup Match Sept. 5-6 at Lahinch, in County Claire, Ireland.

“These six players have earned their spots and are terrific additions to this year’s team,” said Nathan Smith, captain of the USA Team. “I couldn’t be more pleased to see their hard work pay off with this opportunity. With the roster now complete, I’m excited to turn our full attention to getting ready for Lahinch Golf Club.”

The USA Team returns three players from the 2025 squad that defeated Great Britain & Ireland 17-9 at Cypress Point Club. Fang posted a 1-2-1 record; Hagestad went 2-1, and Stout finished 2-2.

Named to the 2026 USA Walker Cup Team, Kihei Akina has earned one of amateur golf’s highest honors and the opportunity to represent the United States in international competition. (Fairways Media/Garrit Johnson)

Kihei Akina, 20, of Alpine, Utah, earned the 2026 Phil Mickelson Award as the nation’s top collegiate freshman after being named 2025-26 Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year in his first season at Brigham Young University. Akina tied for eighth in the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa and was runner-up in the Big 12 Conference Championship. He won a pair of collegiate tournaments in 2025-26 season: R.E. Lamkin Invitational and Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational. Akina made the 36-hole cut in the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship last week and tied for 16th in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open (2026). He also advanced to the Round of 64 at the 2026 U.S. Amateur and the quarterfinals of the 2026 Amateur Championship held at Royal Liverpool. He was a member of the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team and was chosen earlier this year to be a member of the 2026 Elite Amateur Program as part of the U.S. National Development Program.

The Walker Cup Match is a 10-man amateur team competition between the USA and Great Britain and Ireland. The Match is played over two days with 18 singles matches and eight foursomes (alternate-shot) matches. Lahinch will be hosting its first Walker Cup Match.

Meet the USA Walker Cup Team

Utah Golfers’ U.S. Amateur Runs Come to an End at Merion

The run for players with Utah ties at the 126th U.S. Amateur came to an end Thursday at Merion Golf Club, but not before incoming BYU freshman Drake Harvey added another chapter to his summer and Arizona State rising sophomore Bowen Mauss advanced deep into the national championship.

Harvey advanced to the Round of 16 before falling 1 down to Michael Lugiano, while Mauss, the back-to-back Utah State Amateur champion, was eliminated in the Round of 32 by Jack Whaley, 2 and 1.

Harvey’s week included one of Thursday morning’s more notable wins. The Las Vegas native defeated three-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Stewart Hagestad, 2 and 1, to become the ninth BYU golfer ever to reach the U.S. Amateur’s Round of 16.

Drake Harvey watches his tee shot at the fifth hole during the round of 16 of the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Ishika Samant/USGA)

Harvey became the latest Cougar to make a deep run in the national championship, joining Cooper Jones, who also reached the Round of 16 in 2023.

BYU’s U.S. Amateur history includes John Fought’s 1977 championship title and Manuel Merizalde’s run to the semifinals in 2001. Fought, now a renowned golf course architect, went on to earn PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors in 1979.

Harvey took control early against Hagestad, winning Nos. 2 and 4 with birdies and No. 6 with a par to build a 3-up advantage. Another birdie at No. 12 pushed the margin to 4 up. Hagestad won Nos. 15 and 16, but a halve at the 17th sent Harvey into the afternoon.

There, Lugiano gave Harvey everything he could handle.

Harvey fell 1 down at the opening hole before responding with wins at Nos. 3 and 6. Lugiano squared the match at No. 9, and neither player could create much separation on Merion’s back nine.

Harvey won No. 11, Lugiano answered at No. 12 and then moved 1 up with a win at the 14th. Harvey squared the match again at No. 16, setting up a finish that came down to the final two holes.

At No. 17, Lugiano’s par left the BYU freshman 1 down. They halved the 18th, sending Lugiano into Friday’s quarterfinals and ending Harvey’s first U.S. Amateur appearance in the Round of 16..

Earlier in the week, Harvey tied Merion’s competitive course record with an opening-round 64 and finished stroke-play qualifying at 4-under par.

Mauss, meanwhile, reached the Round of 32 after defeating Virgilio Paz, 1 up, in Wednesday’s opening match. The Arizona State golfer advanced through 36-hole stroke-play qualifying with rounds of 68-73 for a 1-over 141. His run ended Thursday morning when Whaley closed out their Round of 32 match, 2 and 1.

Bowen Mauss watches his tee shot at the sixth hole during the round of 32 of the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Ishika Samant/USGA)

Mauss entered the championship ranked No. 201 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after producing three top-10 finishes during his freshman season at Arizona State. His summer included something even more familiar to Utah golf followers: a second consecutive Utah State Amateur title in July at Soldier Hollow Golf Course.

With Harvey and Mauss eliminated, the U.S. Amateur moves into Friday’s quarterfinal matches. Saturday’s semifinals are scheduled for noon and 12:20 p.m., with Sunday’s 36-hole championship match beginning at 7 a.m.

Players with Utah Ties:
Drake Harvey lost in Round of 16
Bowen Mauss lost in Round of 32
Kihei Akina lost in Round of 64
Tyson Shelley lost in Round of 64
Sergio Jimenez lost in Round 64
Boston Bracken lost in Round of 64
Gabriel Palacios failed to make match play
Steele Dewald failed to make match play

Click here for the scoring website from the U.S. Amateur.

2026 U.S. Amateur recap written by Fairways Media publisher Randy Dodson. Photos courtesy of the USGA as credited. Information for this story was compiled from USGA championship coverage and press releases, BYU Athletics and Arizona State Athletics.

Chang’s Utah Road Trip Ends With Mary Lou Baker Open Trophy

Fire and rain could not stop Claire Chang. A “10” on her scorecard failed to deter Rachel Lillywhite.

As the final round of the Mary Lou Baker Open moved toward a conclusion, following a one-hour weather delay in South Jordan, it became clear that the champion would have a good story to tell. In the end, the trophy belonged to Chang, who was about to do her share of the driving in a three-generational road trip from Glenmoor Golf Club back to her home near Seattle, after they experienced wildfire-related detours on the way to Utah.

Mary Lou Baker Open champion Claire Chang celebrates her four-shot victory after a closing 5-under 67.

The UC Davis sophomore made two birdies after the stoppage, while Lillywhite bogeyed the last two holes. That accounts for Chang’s four-stroke victory, a breakthrough she believes “really symbolizes a turning point for me after such a rough freshman year,” she said, “getting back to just playing like ‘me’ again.”

The enhanced Mary Lou Baker Open, expanded last year to 54 holes, keeps attracting out-of-state college golfers. Utah Tech’s Samantha Phelan overcame players from the likes of Northwestern and Cal State Northridge in 2025, but Chang (71-73-67) was just too steady for Lillywhite to overtake her as she finished at 5 under par. BYU’s Whitney Banz (72-75-69) placed third.

Rachel Lillywhite rolls a putt during the final round of the Mary Lou Baker Open, where she finished runner-up at Glenmoor Golf Club.

Imagine, though, if Lillywhite had won a Utah Golf Association major tournament, even with a 10. It happened on the par-4 No. 10 in Tuesday’s second round. The Timpview High School graduate, who’s transferring from Weber State to Utah Valley University, managed to regroup for a 74 that kept her in contention, thanks to an eagle on No. 18.

And then she began the final round with another eagle and reached 6 under par for the day through 11 holes, before setting for a 68. The best part: She birdied No. 10 this time,

The “10” deserves an explanation (out-of-bounds drive, ball in a divot, bunker trouble and an unplayable lie are the basics), although the real story is how she responded to it. Lillywhite just treated it as a “weird” occurrence.

“Honestly, I’d been playing pretty good,” she said. “It was just so strange that I almost didn’t worry about doing it again.”

She also recovered from a triple bogey on the fourth hole of the tournament, while carding 15 birdies and two eagles in three days (Chang made 13 birdies) to finish her adventure at 1 under.

So even with those late bogeys Wednesday, the two-time Women’s State Amateur quarterfinalist left Glenmoor feeling “pretty good, to be honest,” she said. “There were definitely shots that were just really bad, but there were probably more that were really good.”

Whitney Banz shares a smile during the final round of the Mary Lou Baker Open, where she finished third.

Chang may not have been flawless in the final round, but she was close to it, after starting with a one-stroke lead. She loves Glenmoor, having played the course in a 2023 American Junior Golf Association event. Like other collegians, Chang was looking for competition to conclude the summer.

Plus, her grandmother was visiting from Korea. So she and her mother, Ki-Jung Jun, made an American road trip out of the MLB Open. The only trouble was how wildfires in Eastern Washington turned the 11-hour itinerary into a 17-hour trek. Chang, who will turn 19 on Saturday, mostly slept on the way, so she was prepared for more time behind the wheel on the way home.

She would have a lot of good shots to replay on the drive, having come to Utah with “no expectations” of her performance. During her bogey-free final round, Chang said, “I actually didn’t think about chasing that trophy. I just wanted to come out here and show something to myself.”

Steph Belnap earned low senior honors at (+24) 240.

Click here for final Mary Lou Baker Open leaderboard.

2026 Mary Lou Baker Open tournament recap written by Fairways Media senior writer Kurt Kragthorpe. Photos courtesy of Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.

Five Players with Utah ties Advance, Two Still Alive at U.S. Amateur

Five players with Utah ties are headed to match play at the U.S. Amateur, with two more still having a chance to join them. BYU’s Drake Harvey and Tyson Shelley, Arizona State’s Boston Bracken, reigning Utah State Amateur champion Bowen Mauss and the University of Utah’s Sergio Jimenez advanced through 36-hole stroke play qualifying and into the Round of 64.

Bowen Mauss hits his tee shot at the 13th hole during the first round of stroke play of the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, Pa. on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. (Dustin Satloff/USGA)

Utah’s Gabriel Palacios and BYU’s Kihei Akina will return Wednesday morning for a playoff in Philadelphia to determine the final spots in the match play bracket.

USGA senior staff writer David Shefter reported on Harvey’s two rounds of stroke play qualifying in his coverage of the 126th U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club and Philadelphia Cricket Club:

Harvey (2025 UGA Winterchamps champion) took away a special memory from the iconic venue when he returned Tuesday morning to complete his suspended opening round. He birdied the final two holes to match the competitive course record of 64 at a place where Ben Hogan won the 1950 U.S. Open and Bob Jones completed his Grand Slam in 1930 by claiming the U.S. Amateur.

Drake Harvey hits his tee shot at the second hole during the second round of stroke play of the 2026 U.S. Amateur at Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, Pa. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Dustin Satloff/USGA)

Harvey pulled his 4-iron tee shot left on the 243-yard, par-3 ninth but miraculously holed his flop shot from gnarly rough. He finished off the round by making birdie on the 315-yard 10th hole. Before the suspension for darkness, he did drain a 20-footer for par on 16 to keep his momentum going. He then hit his tee shot on the 212-yard, par-3 17th hole to 3 feet to set up a birdie.

“Nothing crazy happened,” said Harvey of his 64, unaware it tied the course record. “I just hit the ball well. I hit it to about two inches three times. It wasn’t like I was making 60-footers all day. It was just super steady.”

A short trip over to Philadelphia C.C. didn’t result in a great start with four bogeys over his first 10 holes before steadying the ship with birdies on Nos. 14 and 18 to post a 72 and qualify for match play in his first U.S. Amateur.

“For whatever reason, it was the same thing at the North & South [Amateur at Pinehurst],” said Harvey, who has BYU assistant coach Spencer Dunaway on his bag. “I shot higher on the easier course, Pinehurst No. 4, than I did on Pinehurst No. 2, where I shot around 5 under.

“Maybe on the harder courses I’m just more patient and make pars more often. Maybe that keeps me in a better attitude. I’m excited to go into match play.”

Click here to read the complete U.S. Amateur 36-hole stroke play qualifying recap by the USGA’s David Shefter.

Click here for stroke play qualifying results.

Utah Players Off to a Hot Start at the U.S. Amateur at Merion

Kihei Akina is coming fresh off making the cut at the Wyndham and finishing 81st against the big boys on the PGA Tour. Akina was exempt for this U.S. Amateur thanks to his World Amateur Golf Ranking, and he opened his championship with an impressive 1-under 69 at Merion to grab a tie for 28th place heading into Tuesday’s final day of stroke play.

2026 Utah State Amateur champion, Bowen Mauss received a U.S. Amateur and PGA TOUR Bank of Utah Championship exemption.

Bowen Mauss, the two-time back to back Utah State Amateur Champ, got off to a stifling start at 2-under par 68 at Philadelphia Country Club during round 1 on Monday afternoon. Mauss received an exemption into the national championship following his State Amateur win in July.

Tyson Shelley is also off to a tremendous start after round 1 as well. The senior at BYU shot a 3-under par 67 at Philadelphia Country Club. Perhaps it was fitting as Shelley spent most of the final day of preparation (Sunday) at Philadelphia CC and unlike most of his peers, avoided spending more time at Merion. We’ll see how that strategy plays out for Shelley over the coming days. But a tie for fifth is a tremendous start in a field of 312.

Drake Harvey got to work in a hurry during Monday’s first round at Merion. Due to darkness, the incoming BYU freshman was not able to finish his round, but sits at 4-under par in a tie for 3rd place after a hot start.

Incoming BYU freshman, Drake Harvey

Harvey’s playing in his first ever U.S. Amateur and told me on Sunday he was “super excited for this championship. I’ve got my coach Spencer Dunaway on the bag for me, and it’s going to be super exciting to see what me and Spencer can accomplish together this week. Hopefully we can make it to matchplay and then make a deep run. So I’m super excited for what can happen this week.”

What does it do psychologically to Harvey having the voice of Dunaway on the bag?

“It’s just his energy. He’s super positive and he’s such a funny guy, and he always makes me laugh even if something is not going great. He is so good at keeping me calm and just in the round. It’s cool to have an opportunity at a course like this, you can’t really plan for a better spot.”

Amazingly, this is Dunaway’s first time caddying for Harvey in any competition. Pretty surreal.

University of Utah golfer Gabriel Palacios shot a 5-over par 75 during his opening round at Merion and now has his work cutout for him in a tie for 215th place, and looking up at a need for a low one on Tuesday at Philadelphia Country Club.

University of Utah golfer, Sergio Jimenez

Sergio Jimenez also is off to a strong start after Monday’s opening round at Philadelphia Country Club where he posted a 1-under to get into a tie for 28th place with one more day before match play begins. Can he hang in there and deliver another solid round at Merion?

Steele Dewald began his first ever United State Amateur on Monday with a 5-over 75 at PCC on Monday, and has some making up of ground to do for the second round ahead on Tuesday at Merion.

On Sunday afternoon at Merion, I asked Dewald what it means to finally play in a U.S. Amateur. He didn’t mince his words.

“I think to qualify for a U.S. Amateur at Merion of all places, it’s like you couldn’t script it any better,” Dewald said. “I’m a big history buff. Like I’ve always loved the history of golf and it’s amazing to be playing here where there is just so much history, I think it is just so special. I mean, I can’t put it any other way really. It’s awesome.”

Arizona State’s Boston Bracken

Boston Bracken was even through 15 holes on Monday at Merion, placing him in a tie for 50th and making for a long Tuesday to both finish on Merion’s iconic last three holes and then having to travel across town to PCC for his second round on the final day of stroke-play. It figures to be a long Tuesday for Bracken in Philadelphia as he tries to punch his ticket into matchplay.

U.S. Amateur stroke play opening round recap written by Fairways Media field correspondent, Garrett Johnston. Johnston has covered golf for 16 years and is the host of the Beyond the Clubhouse with players, caddies and broadcasters. You can follow him on X @JohnstonGarrett. Photos courtesy of Fairways Media.

Samantha Phelan Returns to Defend Mary Lou Baker Open Title Against Deep Field with Plenty at Stake

A year ago, Samantha Phelan arrived at the Mary Lou Baker Open simply happy to be competing again.

She returns Monday as the defending champion, with a much different summer behind her and considerably more at stake.

The Utah Tech rising senior will headline a 60-player field for the Utah Golf Association’s Mary Lou Baker Open, Aug. 10-12 at Glenmoor Golf Club. The 54-hole stroke play championship brings together many of Utah’s top women amateurs, collegiate players and a few professionals while also carrying significant implications in the UGA Women’s Player of the Year race presented by Primo.

Defending champion, Utah Tech rising senior Samantha Phelan returns this week looking to successfully defend her title at Glenmoor Golf Club.

For Phelan, the week begins with a title defense that would have been difficult to envision when she arrived at TalonsCove Golf Club last August.

Phelan was playing her first tournament after undergoing wrist surgery in May. Following weeks away from competitive golf, she returned with modest expectations and left with one of the biggest victories of her career.

“It was the greatest confidence boost to go out and win my first tournament back,” Phelan said. “After taking so many weeks off from competitive golf, I thought it would be more difficult to get back into the tournament mindset and flow.”

Instead, Phelan shot rounds of 69-70-67 for a 10-under-par 206 and a one-stroke victory over professional Ali Mulhall.

As reported by Fairways Media senior writer Kurt Kragthorpe, the championship ultimately came down to Phelan’s decision on the 54th hole.

Standing 120 yards from the green at No. 18, Phelan and her father and caddie, Paul, had discussed playing safely toward the middle of the green. Phelan changed her mind, attacked the right-side hole location and hit her approach to four feet. She made the birdie to win.

A year later, she sees that shot as more than the one that won the tournament.

“That shot has changed the way I approach things,” Phelan said. “I used to define myself as a very conservative player. However, as I continue to play bigger tournaments and take my game to the next level, I have learned when it is a good time to take the riskier shot.”

Phelan finished fourth at the UGA Women’s Winterchamps in March, part of a strong Utah Tech showing behind champion Navy Hubbs. During the college season, Phelan tied for second at the Bobcat Desert Classic at the Golf Club of Estrella in Goodyear, Arizona, shooting 74-69-71—214. She entered the final round in contention and birdied No. 17 on her way to the runner-up finish.

She believes one of the biggest differences in her game is confidence on the greens, particularly when a round or tournament reaches its results-defining holes.

That showed again last month at the 120th Utah Women’s State Amateur at Oakridge Country Club.

Phelan hits a tee shot during the 120th Utah Women’s State Amateur at Oakridge Country Club, where she advanced to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Ashley Lam on the 19th hole.

Phelan defeated Taylyn Wilson 6 & 4 in the Round of 32 and Sydney Richards 5 & 4 in the Round of 16 before eventually reaching the semifinals. There, she pushed champion Ashley Lam to the 19th hole before being eliminated.

The run reinforced what Phelan has learned about the importance of momentum in her game and gave her another boost entering the final stretch of the UGA summer schedule.

Now Lam and Phelan meet again at Glenmoor, this time in stroke play and as the top two players in the current UGA Women’s Player Performance Rankings.

The Mary Lou Baker Open field includes the top six players in the current rankings: Lam, Phelan, Kate Walker, Navy Hubbs, Kelsey Chugg and Whitney Banz. That makes the championship the most important remaining event in the race for UGA Women’s Player of the Year presented by Primo, with only the UGA Senior Women’s State Amateur left on the schedule. The rankings determine the season-ending Player of the Year honor.

2026 Utah Women’s State Amateur champion Ashley Lam enters the Mary Lou Baker Open atop the UGA Women’s Player Performance Rankings.

Lam comes to Glenmoor following a memorable July in which she defeated six-time champion Chugg 1 up in the 36-hole final of the Women’s State Amateur. Phelan was one of the players who nearly stopped that championship run.

Walker, the reigning UGA Women’s Player of the Year, remains squarely in this year’s race. Hubbs already owns a UGA victory this season after winning Winterchamps, while Chugg’s record in Utah women’s golf makes her a factor whenever she enters a championship. Banz adds another of the state’s established players to a field that also includes college golfers from programs outside Utah.

The makeup of the field is part of what the UGA envisioned when it expanded the Mary Lou Baker Open to 54 holes in 2025. The change made the championship eligible for World Amateur Golf Ranking consideration and established it as a late-summer opportunity for collegiate players preparing to return to school.

That timing is especially meaningful for Phelan.

She will return to Utah Tech this fall for her senior season with one goal in mind: earning her first collegiate victory.

Phelan says she has not spent much time studying the Player of the Year standings. Her approach at Glenmoor will be much like the one that carried her through last year’s final round: staying with her game plan, handling what is directly in front of her and being confident when it’s time to play aggressively.

Samantha Phelan’s confidence continues to grow as she prepares for her senior season at Utah Tech with a goal of winning her first collegiate victory.

“It feels good coming back as a defending champion, but I’m reminding myself not to put too much pressure on myself,” she said. “I know my job is to just focus on my game and take the tournament one shot at a time.”

There will be one familiar presence alongside her. Her father will again be on the bag.

A year ago, that partnership ended with Phelan overriding the safe play on the final hole, firing at the flag and walking away with the trophy.

At Glenmoor, against a field filled with the players chasing her, and the players she is chasing, Phelan gets the chance to do it again.

The 2026 Mary Lou Baker Open begins Monday at Glenmoor Golf Club and concludes Wednesday after 54 holes of stroke play.

Click here for a look at the upcoming Mary Lou Baker Open pairings and tee times. 

Feature and photos by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson and Garrit Johnson.