IVINS, Utah — BYU men’s golfer Kihei Akina (67-67-65-65-264) finished ninth at 20 under par Sunday at the PGA Tour’s Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort, earning his first top-10 finish in a PGA Tour event.
Akina carded consecutive rounds of 65 over the weekend after making the cut into the top 56 players and ties as the only amateur in the field to advance. He moved into ninth place with a birdie on the final hole, recording the first top-10 finish by an amateur on the PGA Tour since September 2025.
“It feels great to have put together two good rounds on the weekend,” Akina said. “I was overwhelmed with all the ovations and support that I got, not only on the 18th hole, but all week from everyone.”
Following consecutive rounds of 67 to open the tournament, Akina made his third PGA Tour cut and first at the Bank of Utah Championship after missing the cut in 2024 and 2025.
Akina began his third round with birdies on the 14th and 18th holes to make the turn at 2 under. Four more birdies on the front nine, including three consecutive birdies on Nos. 5-7, moved him to 6 under before he closed the round with a 65.
Akina fired another 6-under 65 in the final round Sunday, highlighted by seven birdies and one bogey. He started with a birdie on the opening hole before adding two more on Nos. 5 and 7. The sophomore offset a birdie on the 10th with a bogey on the 11th before making three more birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 18 to finish the round.