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2026 Bank of Utah Championship: Johnny Keefer, Ben James and other young stars go low in desert

During the third round of the Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort, a quartet of rising competitors surged up the leaderboard with immaculate, bogey-free scorecards on Saturday. Johnny Keefer matched his career-best round by carding a 9-under 62, highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 seventh hole, which vaulted the 25-year-old into a tie for fifth place heading into the final day.

Ben James, a 23-year-old rookie, finished strong with a birdie on the final hole to secure a 7-under 64, placing him in a tie for third overall. Meanwhile, David Ford shot a 65 to land in a tie for sixth, and 20-year-old amateur Kihei Akina capitalized on a strong run of iron play and putting to climb into contention alongside the leading veterans Austin Smotherman and Doug Ghim.

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