BOISE — Aldrich Potgieter could feel the birdie barrage coming.
Sitting five strokes behind leader Matt McCarty after 36 holes at the Albertsons Boise Open, Potgieter knew Saturday was the time to play catch-up. And that’s exactly what the 19-year-old South African did at Hillcrest Country Club.
Potgieter filled up his scorecard with nine birdies and an eagle to shoot an 8-under 63 on an unseasonably cool day in the Treasure Valley. He sandwiched a mediocre Friday with a 7-under opening-round performance and sits in a tie for second at 18-under overall, one stroke behind McCarty at the first of four Korn Ferry Tour playoff events.
“I felt comfortable with the course coming in,” Potgieter said. “It was my first time seeing it and I put a really good number on the board (Thursday). I kind of just tried to do the same thing (Saturday) … and hit more fairways.”
Potgieter felt his driver took a big step forward in the third round. He also excelled around the greens with three chip-ins, including an eagle on the par-4 10th hole.
“Some of them were lucky and some of them were pretty decent,” said Potgieter, who switched to a new putter before the tournament that has given him an added boost of confidence. “It was just a great round.”
Back in January, Potgieter became the youngest champion in KFT history with a victory at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic. Potgieter has only recorded one top-10 finish since, but something clicked for him upon arriving in Boise.
“(The win) was huge, that was life-changing and nobody expected it,” he said. “I kind of taught myself that I could be out here, I could be out on the PGA Tour, playing some big events.”
William Mouw matched Potgieter Saturday with a bogey-free 8-under 63 to grab a share of second place. Mouw birdied four of his first five holes and carded four straight birdies on 14, 15, 16 and 17.
“My birdies really came in bunches,” Mouw said. “My short game held me in today, and I just had a lot of fun doing it.”
After a sizzling first two rounds, McCarty wasn’t as sharp off the tee Saturday and settled for a 4-under 67. He holed a bunker shot on the 10th hole for an eagle to regain some much-needed momentum.
McCarty, a two-time winner this season, sits at 19-under overall entering Sunday’s final round.
Playing in the third group of the day, Quade Cummins recorded an 11-under 60 with 10 birdies and an eagle. Cummins needed to play the final two holes at even-par to match the course record, but missed a short par putt on 17.
“That was incredible to see,” Potgieter said of Cummins’ round. “So you kind of know those scores are available, and if you’re going to play well you should see them.”
The Hillcrest record of 59 is shared by Russell Knox (2013) and David Kocher (2023).
Cummins, who made the cut on the number, sits in a six-way tie for fourth at 16-under. Cummins and McCarty have already secured PGA Tour cards for the 2025 season while Potgieter and Mouw still have work to do.
At the end of the KFT playoffs, the top 30 players in the points race receive PGA Tour cards.
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