Utah Men’s State Amateur getting ready for rare late-summer golf tournament

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PARK CITY — Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Utah Men’s State Amateur golf tournament has gone back to its previous format and will be played two months later than usual.

In past years, the tournament has been played in either late June or early July, but the Utah Golf Association board decided back in May to postpone the event and is set for Sept. 1-5 at the Jeremy Ranch Golf Club.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be hosting the event at Jeremy Ranch this year,” said Utah Golf Association executive director Jacob Miller at the annual media day Wednesday.

Miller said the tournament, which has been played for 121 consecutive years, had more than 900 entries this year for the various qualifying tournaments this month and that the “Last Chance” qualifier field set for next week at Mountain View Golf Course, filled up online in less than 90 seconds.

Since 2013, the tournament has been played with 288 players in the field with 64 advancing to match play. However, because of the pandemic, the tournament has been scaled back to its previous format with 144 players in the field and just 32 advancing to match play with the tournament being contested over five days instead of six.

“We’re going to have an elite field,” Miller said.

Preston Summerhays is the two-time defending champion and he’ll be joined by a strong field that will include former champions such as Kelton Hirsch, Dan Horner, Darrin Overson and Jon Wright, a two-time winner.

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