Austin Smotherman enters the final round of the Bank of Utah Championship aiming for his first PGA Tour victory after leading through three rounds at Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah. Smotherman carded a 6-under 65 on Saturday, bringing his total to 23-under-par 190. He holds a one-stroke advantage over Doug Ghim, who shot a 64 to reach 22-under.

Smotherman, making his 100th career start, had established a one-shot lead after the second round with a 62 but saw his lead narrow on Saturday due to a bogey on the par-3 third hole. He rebounded with birdies at the fifth, seventh, and ninth holes to go 2 under for the front nine. On the back nine, Smotherman overcame a bogey at the tenth with strong play, recording birdies at five holes, including a 12-foot putt on the 18th. The 32-year-old has two top-10 finishes this season and is ranked No. 79 in the FedEx Cup Fall Series standings.

“This is the spot you want to be,” Smotherman said of holding the lead heading into the final round. “You kind of hold all the cards. I’m sure there’s going to be some energy.”

Ghim, in his 192nd tour start, closed with an impressive back nine, birdieing six holes after a mixed front nine that included a bogey. The 30-year-old, who also has two top-10 finishes this year, is ranked No. 89 in the Fall Series. The winner of Sunday’s event will gain entry into the first two signature tournaments in 2027, and the top 60 in the Fall Series standings will qualify for those events and retain their PGA Tour cards for the next season.

In other professional golf news, Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand extended her lead at the Lotte Championship in Honolulu. The world number two posted a 5-under 67 at Hoakalei Country Club to lead by three strokes going into the final round Sunday. South Korea’s Ina Yoon and Germany’s Polly Mack are tied for second at 14 under.

Thitikul’s steady play, highlighted by precise iron shots with 17 greens in regulation, helped her separate from the field. “To be consistent week to week, you need to have consistent greens in regulation,” she said following her round.

Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, Michael Block took the lead after two rounds at the Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The 50-year-old rookie shot a bogey-free 7-under 63 on Saturday to reach 11-under-par through 36 holes, a stroke ahead of New Zealand’s Steven Alker and two ahead of Australia’s Richard Green.

Block, who is primarily a club professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in California, has garnered attention after a tie for 15th at the 2023 PGA Championship. He credited the support from fellow Champions Tour players as a key factor in his strong start, emphasizing the importance of staying true to himself on the course.

Alker, a three-time winner this year with 13 career PGA Tour Champions titles, posted matching 65s to keep within striking distance at 10 under. Both players recorded bogey-free rounds on Saturday, setting the stage for a competitive weekend finale.