LAYTON — Dan Horner grew up in New Jersey, but has lived in Utah for much of the past decade. Back East, he never would have received the recognition he got for winning last year's Men's State Amateur golf tournament, but he's been surprised, yet appreciative of what a big deal the State Am is in Utah.

"Obviously it's a great championship and the media attention helps makes this special," he said.

Horner is back to defend his title when it gets under way today at the scenic Valley View Golf Course. Even though he is the defending champion, he'll be less recognizable than at least one golfer in the 157-golfer field, Utah Jazz guard Kyle Korver, who received one of two exemptions for the tournament.

Horner and Korver will be vying for Utah's top golf prize today and Thursday, with the lowest-scoring 31 golfers joining Horner in match play competition, which begins Friday morning. By Sunday, two golfers will be left to fight it out in a 36-hole championship match.

Horner will be one of the favorites among a dozen or so others who could win the title. College players such as Robbie Fillmore (BYU), Robert McRae (St. Mary's), Jordan Rodgers (BYU), Toph Peterson (Utah State) and Zack Blair (starts at BYU in the fall) will be among the players to watch, along with veteran former professionals, such as Salt Lake City Amateur champ Jon Wright, Scott Hailes and Darrin Overson, a former State Am champion (1998).

Other former champions in the field include three-time winner Doug Bybee, Tommy Sharp, Gregg Oliphant, Jason Wight, Todd Barker and Steve Borget.

Two former Dixie State golfers — Christian Jensen, who surprised a lot of folks by making it to last year's semifinals, and Andrew Barton, who won the Spanish Oaks Open this spring — could make runs at the title along with Kirk Siddens, Tyson Lund and 52-year-old Steve Poulson, who made last year's quarterfinals.

Last year's runner-up, Devin Daniels, has turned professional, as has 2007 champion Nick Nelson and Nick Killpack, who graduated from BYU this spring. Horner toured the Valley View layout last week and came away impressed with the condition of the course, and he believes it will test the state's best golfers.

"I think the course is going to play pretty short," said Horner. "It's not overly long. The key is going to be putting the ball in play and in the proper position on the greens so you don't play defensive."

Horner was bothered by a muscle knot in his lower back last week, but otherwise feels he's playing as well as last year when he won the title at Soldier Hollow. He said he hasn't played as much so far this year and is pacing himself so he can play better golf later in the summer.