Matt McCarty is feeling at home this weekend.
Playing in the southern Utah heat, among the redrock cliffs and lava rock that are inescapable at Black Desert Resort, the Arizona golfer took a two-stroke lead Saturday afternoon in Ivins.
“I think it’s just very comfortable environment being back in the desert,” McCarty said. “Just like the views and like it’s just a cool place to be. Cool place to play well also. Just growing up in desert golf, very familiar I guess.”x
McCarty shot a 64 to move to 19-under par and atop the leaderboard at the Black Desert Championship, the PGA Tour’s first stop in Utah in 60 years.
Heading into Sunday’s final round, McCarty will have a two-shot lead over Joe Highsmith, Kevin Streelman, Harris English and Stephan Jaeger.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Spectators watch play on the 16th hole during the first round of the Black Desert Championship PGA Tour golf tournament in Ivins, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.
It’s a “very uncomfortable golf course if you’re off the fairway,” McCarty said. “You could be reloading. It’s a tough place to have nerves on, and tomorrow will be no different for sure.”
Jaeger started the day in the lead but dropped into a tie for second after shooting a 68.
“I can only control what I’m doing, how aggressive I want to be to some of those pins, how aggressive I want to be off the tee boxes,” Jaeger said. “Hopefully I can read the greens a little better than today and have a couple more looks at it.”
Former BYU standout Zac Blair, the only Utah golfer to make the cut, sits tied for 59th (-6) after shooting a 70 on Saturday.
“Played pretty good. Just struggled on the greens,” Blair said. “Four three-putts, but felt like I played probably the best that I played of the three days. Just need to kind of make it all work tomorrow and go have a good one.”
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Spectators watch play on the 17th hole during the first round of the Black Desert Championship PGA Tour golf tournament in Ivins, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.
How to watch the Black Desert Championship
1-6 p.m. — SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio
3-6 p.m. — GOLF Channel
