Karl Vilips, Matt McCarty share 54-hole lead at Utah Championship presented Zions Bank and Intermountain Health

Things to Know

• Matt McCarty – who was declared #TOURBound after his victory at the 2024 Price Cutter Charity Championship – and Karl Vilips share the 54-hole lead at 20-under 193.
• Australian Brett Drewitt cards a second consecutive 7-under 64 and trails by one stroke in solo third.
• The 36-hole leader Cristobal Del Solar posts an even par 71 and stands at T13.
• Final-round tee times will run from 6:50-11:10 a.m. local time in groups off of No. 1.
• The final round will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel from 3–6 p.m. EST.

Third-Round Lead Notes

21 – Third-round leaders/co-leaders to win the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank and

Intermountain Health

8 – Third-round leaders/co-leaders to win on Tour in 2024

Matt McCarty (Co-leader/-20)

• Cards a second consecutive bogey-free round with a 10-under 61, lowest round of his career (previous; 62/Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS/R3)
• At 20-under 193, records the lowest 54-hole score of his career (previous; 196/2024 Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS)
  • Posted a bogey-free 9-under 62 in the second round and a 1-under 70 in the opening round
• Claimed his first career Korn Ferry Tour victory at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper to become #TOURBound and secure his PGA TOUR card for next season
• Third career start at the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank and Intermountain Health; made the cut in all three appearances (T12/2023; T44/2022)
• Bidding to become the fourth multiple-winner on Tour this season (there were five multiple winners last season)
• Third 54-hole lead/co-lead of his career (last; 2024 Price Cutter Charity Championship/won)
• Finished in the top 75 of the Korn Ferry Tour Points List each of the last two seasons (No. 55 as a rookie in 2022, No. 35 in 2023) and is fully exempt for 2024
• Earned Korn Ferry Tour membership for the first time ahead of the 2022 season with a T39 at Final Stage of 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament (now PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry)
• Turned professional in 2021 after five seasons at Santa Clara University (2016-21), where he earned three AllWest Coast Conference honors (2018, 2019, 2021)

Karl Vilips (Co-leader/-20)

• Carded a bogey-free 7-under 64 with birdies on Nos. 1, 2, 7, 8, 11, 17, 18
• Recorded the lowest round of his career in the second round with a 9-under 62; made nine birdies (Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18) and an eagle (No. 15) against a double bogey (No. 10)
• First lead/co-lead of any kind in what is his fourth career start on the Korn Ferry Tour
• Bidding to become the 15th first-time winner on Tour this season, as well as the 13th winner in their 20s
• In his first season as a professional, finished inside the top-25 in all three previous starts on Tour this year; finished runner-up at last week’s NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank for the best result of his career
• One made cut in two starts on PGA TOUR Americas this season (T33/ATB Classic)
• Finished No. 10 in the 2024 PGA TOUR University Ranking after four seasons at Stanford University, earning conditional membership for the remainder of the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour season, fully exempt membership for the remainder of the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas season, and an exemption to Second Stage of 2024 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry
• Represented Australia at the 2023 World Amateur Team Championship, helping his country to a co-runner-up finish
• Played four seasons at Stanford University (2021-24), where he earned a 2024 All-America Second Team honor, three All-Pac-12 Conference laurels (First Team in 2023 and 2024, Second Team in 2022), and earned his lone collegiate victory at the 2024 Pac-12 Championship

Quotables

McCarty on his bogey-free 10-under 61… “Yeah, made a few putts, so it was nice to get the ball going in. Played well on the front and then kind of turned, and Nos. 10 and 11 are tough, good par on No. 12 and kind of hit it good and made some putts. It was nice -- another bogey-free day.”

McCarty on how his mindset has changed since securing his PGA TOUR card… “I think the goal's shifted a little bit. I was kind of in it last week and then finished kind of poorly. I mean, just trying to kind of keep my energy up and honestly stay focused. I think after Thursday I was honestly like kind of ready to go home and take the weekend off. Then played really well the last couple days, so definitely shifting. It's been fun. A little bit more freedom and with kind of having something to achieve. But as far as like obviously the No. 1 spot means a lot with getting in some really good events, but even just kind of climbing your way up the points list, it all matters. Just keep telling myself that to get in more events, make early next year as easy as possible.”

Sam Choi on his 8-under 63… “Yeah, I mean, I hit some great shots today, playing with Zach (Bauchou) and Sam Bennett, it was probably like a feature group. I was very excited and kind of nervous playing with those guys. I started pretty fast, three birdies in the first three holes. I mean, yeah, it was like everything was just out there. Hit some fairways and hit some good shots and I made a lot of good putts today.

Choi on being in contention heading into Sunday… “Yeah, I mean, I'm actually very proud of myself. The last three rounds, you know, I played some good golf, but there's a lot of ups and downs. My caddie actually did a great job keeping me in a positive attitude throughout the weekend and still one more round. I mean, it's an exciting moment knowing that you're in contention and one good round tomorrow will put me in a good spot.”

Notes

• Australian Brett Drewitt (3rd/-19) cards a second consecutive 7-under 64 and stands alone in third; his best 54-hole position since the 2023 Veritex Bank Championship (first/finished second).
  • The 33-year-old is seeking his second career Korn Ferry Tour victory (2020 Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS) and his first top-10 of the 2024 campaign.
• Korn Ferry Tour rookie Sam Choi (T4/-18), who made his second cut of the season this week in what is his 10th start, posts an 8-under 63 for the lowest round of his career (previous; 67/117 Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro/R1).
  • Finished second in the 2023 Fortinet Cup Points List on PGA TOUR Canada (now PGA TOUR Americas) to earn Korn Ferry Tour status for the first time for the 2024 season
• Third-year member Quade Cummins (T4/-18), who entered the week No. 10 on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, stands at T4, looking to add his 11th top-25 finish (leads the Tour with 10) and his six top-10 of the year.
  • The former Oklahoma Sooner carded his third consecutive 6-under 65 of the week, rolling in five birdies (Nos. 1, 5, 8, 9, 17) and an eagle (No. 15) against one bogey (No. 12).
• Kaysville, Utah, native Daniel Summerhays (T13/-15), who started the week No. 41 on the 2024 points list, birdies four of his last five holes (Nos. 14, 15, 16, 18) en route to a 5-under 66; Summerhays is seeking his third top-10 finish at the Utah Championship in what is his 10th start (T2/2020; sixth/2019).
• Charles Porter (T13/-15), who is making his 19th career start on Tour this week, leads the field in birdies after 54 holes with 24 (23 birdies, one eagle).
  • The San Francisco, California, native heads into the final round looking to claim the best result of his career (T13/2024 Ascendant presented by Blue).
• Of the three amateurs to make the weekend, Cooper Jones (T18/-14) leads the trio in position T18; The rising BYU sophomore carded his second bogey-free round of the week with a 5-under 66.
  • Fellow amateurs Max Brenchley (T62/-9) and Kihei Akina (T62/-9) stand in position T62 after third-round scores of 3-under 68 and 2-under 69, respectively.