It took 100 tries, but Austin Smotherman is finally a PGA Tour winner. The 32-year-old shot a 3-under 68 on Sunday to win the Bank of Utah Championship by two shots, AP and Golf Channel reported.

He finished at 26-under 258 at Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah, which broke the tournament's 72-hole record in only its third year.

"We won on the PGA Tour. That's insane," Smotherman said, according to AP.

He never trailed. Smotherman led after the second and third rounds and made three early birdies on Sunday to stretch his lead, but trouble came on the par-4 13th, where his approach plugged near a bunker lip and he made double bogey. Suddenly Trace Crowe was just one shot back after a 40-foot eagle putt.

Smotherman answered right away. He drove the ball to about 6 feet on the 14th for a birdie and later made a 12-footer on the 16th. "It didn't have to be pretty," he said afterward.

Doug Ghim finished second at 24 under, his best career finish, while Crowe and David Ford tied for third.

The win changes a lot for him. He earned $1,080,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points, Golf Channel said, along with a two-year exemption and spots in the Players Championship and the PGA Championship. He came into the week 79th in the standings, where only the top 100 keep full cards, AP said.

His road was not smooth. Smotherman withdrew from this event two years ago and ended up on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025, where he won twice to earn his way back. He is the ninth first-time winner on the PGA Tour this season, Golf Channel said.

BYU sophomore Kihei Akina finished ninth, the tour's first top-10 by an amateur in more than a year, and earned a spot in the Bermuda Championship from Oct. 22 to 25.

What we know: Smotherman won at 26 under and is exempt for two years.
What we don't: How he will use his new status in next year's big events.