Volunteering has paid off for Salt Lake City native Mike Smith. Smith, who has been a volunteer at Utah's Nationwide Tour golf event the past eight years, is the Utah Championship's new tournament director, organizers announced Wednesday.

Smith replaces Evan Byers, who left earlier this year to take over as tournament director of the JEN-WELD Tradition in Sunriver, Ore., one of the five majors on the Champions Tour.

"I'm excited about where the tournament is right now, and the possibility of where it can go this year and beyond," Smith said.

Smith has served as the tournament's volunteer chairman since 2002 and was the Nationwide Tour's Volunteer of the Year in 2005. He has been on the tournament's executive board since 2007.

"Mike has played an important role in the successful history of this tournament," said Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission, host organization of the Utah Championship. "Having a new tournament director in place who is familiar with the operation will help us not place a beat.

This year's Utah Championship is Sept. 1 through Sept. 7 at Willow Creek Country Club in Sandy.

The Tribune reported Wednesday that the event is without a title sponsor after five-year sponsor EnergySolutions chose not to renew its title rights in January.