Matt McCarty took a two-stroke lead into the final round in his second PGA Tour start, shooting a 7-under 64 on Saturday in the inaugural Black Desert Championship.
A three-time winner this season on the Korn Ferry Tour to earn an instant promotion to the PGA Tour, McCarty had a 19-under 194 total at Black Desert Resort in the tour's first event in Utah in 61 years.
On a breezier, but still low-scoring afternoon on the Tom Weiskopf design carved out of an ancient black lava field, the 26-year-old McCarty played a five-hole stretch on the front nine in 6 under - highlighted by an eagle chip-in on the par-5 seventh.
"I think it's just very comfortable environment being back in the desert," said McCarty, from Scottsdale, Arizona. "Just like the views and like it's just a cool place to be. Cool place to play well, also."
On the back nine, McCarty drove the green and two-putted for birdie on the short par-4 14th. He hit a wedge to 6 inches on the par-4 16th, then two-putted the par-5 18th for another birdie.
