The Hive Sports

October 9-13, 2024 – Ivins, Utah.

by Joe Oliver

After a 63-year hiatus, the PGA Tour returned this past week to the Beehive State. Black Desert Resort in Southern Utah hosted a PGA tour championship event! The week was filled with many activities, including an Utah high school golf competition at the first of the week, before many of the players arrived. 

Wednesday: a “pro-am” 4 man scramble was held. Each group consisted of two professional golfers, along with 2-4 members of the community.

Playing alongside the pros were leaders in business, finance, the tech industry, philanthropic sponsors/donors, as well as Utah politicians. Utah Attorney General, Sean Reyes, had a decent round as he is a known avid golfer. However, most of those who were invited/allowed to play in the pro-am simply used money or influence to obtain a spot. There were almost no actual amateurs who played (with PGA tour  hopes). That being said, events like this cannot happen without sponsors, and that means money. 

Thursday: Beginning round one play at first light, there was a smaller than expected crowd gathered at the joint 1st/10th tee box. Even still, the atmosphere was one of excitement and anticipation to witness the tournament and the rest of the week’s activities!

Group after group teed off from the 1st and 10th holes, respectively. Nearly every single shot was straight and true. With 132 players in the field each trying their best for a chance at the $7.5 million purse, there was not enough sunlight for all of the players to finish. First round play was suspended due to darkness at 7:04 p.m. MDT with 27 players yet to finish their round.

Friday: Those players who did not finish round one play, began at the positions wgere they left off at the sound of a horn at 8 a.m., with the second round beginning as scheduled at 7:40 a.m.

By the end of round one play, the leader board looked as follows: 

In first place was the Canadian, Adam Svensson, 60 (-11). Tied for 2nd place was Henrik Norlander of Sweeden and left hander, Matt McCarty from the USA, tied at 62 (-9) Kevin Streelman and Sam Ryder, both from the USA were tied in 4th place shooting a 64 (-7).

After what felt like a very long, hot day, the second round was suspended as well due to darkness at 7:08 p.m. with 19 players yet to finish their round. One of the players who did not finish round 2 was Wesley Bryan. He stopped play on the 18th green. The rest of his group had finished and he was the last player remaining. As he was on the verge of making the cut or going home early, he chose to wait 12 hours until next sunlight.

Saturday: The players who had not finished round two were back in position at 8:15 a.m. Wesley studied every angle, every curve, and every viewpoint of the 14 foot put he was about to take. His put was for eagle! If he made it, he was automatically in the finals. If he missed amd shot a birdie, he could still be knocked out by players who had yet to finish as well. If he shot par or more he would be eliminated. Around 8 o’clock a small crowd began to form to see wgat was about to unfold. And then, the horn sounded, he took the put, it went in the hole for eagle. Cheers spewed from outside the ropes and he took his cap off and launched it into the air! The mental fortitude payed off as ultimately, he finished in 21st place after the final round. He took home $81,750 as his share. 

As the field was narrowed down to 67 players, the third-round tee times didn’t begin until 10:20 a.m. Leadering the pack for round 3:

Stephan Jaeger of Germany came in at 128 (-14). Tied in second place with a combined 1st and second round score of 129 (-13) were Adam Svensson and Ben Kohles. In 4th place Harris English, Sam Ryder, Henrik Norlander, and Matt McCarty were all at 130 (-12). Although McCarty still had three holes to play from round two.

Sunday: Highly anticipated play brought out huge crowds to witness Utah PGA tour history. Matt McCarty pulled ahead as the leader to start the day. He dominated play and maintained his lead through the end finishing in the final group with himself and Harris English. 

Final scores for the leaders were as follows:

First place: Matt McCarty, 62, 68, 64, 67 = 261 (-23)

Second place: Stephan Jaeger, 65, 63, 68, 68 = 264 (-20)

Tied in 3rd place:

Lucas Glover, 69, 66, 68, 62 = 265 (-19) and,

Kevin Streelman, 64, 69, 63, 69 = 265 (-19)

5th place : Matti Schmid, 70, 67, 67, 62 = 266 (-18)

Course info: Black Desert Resort

Par: 36-35 – 71

Competition Yardage: 7,371 yards

Designed by Tom Weiskopf

FedEx Cup points for winner: 500

Purse $7.5 million. Prize money for the winner: $1.35 million 

The event was sold out and viewed by the PGA and the Black Desert Resort as a success! This was the inaugural year and plans are already in the works for them to host again next year!

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Here’s a look at some of the notable players in the field for the 2024 Black Desert Championship. 

Players with Utah ties:

Kihei Akina – Alpine resident, Lone Peak High School senior, committed to BYU

Zac Blair – Salt Lake City, Fremont High School graduate, BYU product, St. George resident

Jay Don Blake – St. George native and resident, playing in the Black Desert Championship as a sponsor exemption for his 500th PGA TOUR start

Patrick Fishburn – BYU product, Ogden resident

Zac Jones – BYU senior, Lone Peak High School product, 2022 Utah State Amateur champion

Peter Kuest – BYU product, American Fork resident

Bowen Mauss – Corner Canyon High School senior, 2024 Salt Lake City Amateur champion

Dustin Volk – Utah PGA Section qualifier, Davis County Director of Golf

Mike Weir – BYU product, Park City resident, eight-time PGA TOUR winner, 2003 Masters champion, 2024 International Presidents Cup captain

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Other notable players:

Aaron Baddeley – four-time PGA TOUR winner

Daniel Berger – four-time PGA TOUR winner

Cameron Champ – three-time PGA TOUR winner

Harris English – four-time PGA TOUR winner

Lucas Glover – six-time PGA TOUR winner, 2009 U.S. Open champion

J.B. Holmes – five-time PGA TOUR winner

Stephan Jaeger – 2024 PGA TOUR winner

Chris Kirk – six-time PGA TOUR winner

Kevin Kisner – four-time PGA TOUR winner, 2024 U.S. Presidents Cup assistant captain

Patton Kizzire – 2024 PGA TOUR winner

Martin Laird – four-time PGA TOUR winner

Ryan Moore – five-time PGA TOUR winner

Chez Reavie – three-time PGA TOUR winner

Brandt Snedeker – nine-time PGA TOUR winner, 2024 U.S. Presidents Cup assistant captain

Nick Taylor – four-time PGA TOUR winner, 2024 PGA TOUR winner

Michael Thorbjornsen – Earned TOUR card by being No. 1 in the 2024 PGA TOUR University ranking

Camilo Villegas – five-time PGA TOUR winner; 2024 Presidents Cup International Team assistant captain

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Images courtesy Joe Oliver.