Looks like the 32nd Annual Coors Tournament of Champions will take a page out of one of the world’s most famous golf tournaments to determine the champion on Sunday.

Golfers playing The Masters annually say the tournament “doesn’t start until the back nine” on Sunday.

Well, after Saturday’s third round of the TOC played out in howling wind conditions over the Arrowhead Course at Comanche Trail Golf Club leaving three players tied for the lead and another three golfers two strokes off the lead, the final nine holes of this 72-hole tourney surely look destined to determine the outcome.

Saturday produced the first under par rounds of the TOC this year with Max Mitchell and Kent Neal each shooting a 2-under 70 leaving the pair tied on top the leaderboard with Drew Baccus at 8-over 222.

Nestled behind the leading trio – and very much alive to hoist the TOC trophy – at 10-over 224 are three-time TOC winner Kyle Kelting, Stetson Provence and young gun 19-year-old Hunter Corman.

Jenner King, playing in his first-ever TOC, rounds out the field of seven at 22-over 236. This fall King will be a freshman on the golf team at Western Texas College in Snyder.

The 20-25 miles per hour gusting wind made sure the Tomahawk Course would not give up a birdie-fest as was expected after the grueling first two rounds spent on the fast, fast greens and stretched back tee boxes of Amarillo Country Club and Tascosa Golf Club.

For Mitchell, Neal and Baccus to make it to the top of the leader board each had their moment in the sun.

The even-keeled 28-year-old Mitchell produced a round of four birdies, two bogeys and 12 pars. His best stretch of play arrived between Nos. 9-13 where he played those five holes in 2-under. Mitchell added the icing on his round with a birdie four at the par 5 No. 17 enjoying the wind at his back.

“It’s been a struggle all week, for sure,” said Mitchell, who leads all golfers in birdies for the tournament at 10. “The golf courses have been playing hard. Even out here at Comanche you expect a little of a break and the first five holes it’s blowing 25. So you just kind of hold those first few holes and stay patient out here. It’s definitely been a struggle this week. It’s just been a grind.”

Neal tied Mitchell for the low round of the day thanks to hitting 16 greens in regulation, producing two birdies, one eagle and playing the final 10 holes in 4-under.

The highlight to Neal’s round arrived when he chipped in from behind the green for eagle on the par 5 No. 12.

“The wind was tough,” Neal said. “On No. 2 I busted a 7-iron from 154 yards out and still came up 30 feet short. The greens were obviously slower than the last two days we played so that was an adjustment. There are several factors (for the high scoring) like all three days they have tipped and tucked the pins as much as they can. It’s been a grind, no doubt. But it’s been fun. It’s a blast. I’m happy.”

And the chip-in?

“I tried to hit a cut 3-wood in there from 254 yards and I though I hit it pretty good and when we got up there it was a little bit long. I landed the chip where I wanted to and I got lucky and it went in.”

Baccus saved his best for last. Baccus was one behind the leaders and 1-over for his round when he faced a chip about four yards behind the No. 18 green. He showed his deft touch, landing the ball short of the hole and chipping in for the birdie and tying Mitchell and Neal for the lead.

Baccus showed grit Saturday finding the holes against the win a struggle and sitting at 3-over par after seven holes. But he played the final 10 holes in 3-under.

“The wind was tough today,” Baccus said. “Like on No. 18 I had 141 (yards) coming in so your playing your shot 25 yards shorter with the wind and just imagine going into the wind? At least I was able to make a good chip on that last hole.”

For the trio lurking at two back of the leaders, each had their hiccups and moment in the sun on Saturday.

Kelting’s hiccup arrived on No. 18 when he double bogeyed the par 4 knocking him out of a possible four-way tie fir first place. But throughout the day Kelting was in or tied for the lead showing his steadiness hitting eight fairways and 11 greens in regulation. Kelting is 19-year vet of the TOC and knowns what it takes to win.

Corman fought a wayward driver hitting four fairways in regulation but showed his firepower with back-to-back birdies at No.s 12 and 13.

Provence was 1-under after No. 10 thanks to back-to-back birdies at Nos. 9 and 10. And then his final eight holes saw a little of everything with three bogeys, three birdies and two pars.

With all that said, six golfers know and believe they have a chance to hoist the TOC trophy Sunday afternoon at Ross Rogers.
“I love playing the Mustang Course at Ross Rogers,” Baccus said. “So I’m looking forward to playing. Let’s hope the wind decides to take a break.”

Mitchell said the back nine Sunday looks like the decider for the 2026 TOC champion.

 “It has that feel to it, doesn’t it,” Mitchell said. “What I expect (Sunday), or hope, is the forecast has the wind blowing five miles per hour. You are going to have to be patient and hang in there. As long as you are there on the back nine then anything can happen.”

“These are the best golfers in Amarillo,” Neal said. “And it’s fun grinding against these guys. I don’t know what Sunday has in store. We will find out. Just keep grinding, get a few to fall and maybe get lucky to come out on top at the end.”

Matt Robinson leads Senior championship

The senior portion of the Tournament of Champions started Saturday on the Tomahawk Course at Comanche with the first of two rounds.

The day one leader in the field of eight competitors is Matt Robinson at 1-under. Robinson produced the first-day lead thanks to three consecutive birdies on Nos. 9, 10 and 11.

This one is far from over as four golfers are a stroke behind Robinson at 2-over in Clint Deeds, Mark Guess, Bunky Preston and defending senior champion Dario Garza.

Ralph Ellis sits in 6th at 4 over, followed by David Hopper at 5-over and Mike Montoya at 8-over.

The final round for the seniors starts with tee times at 8:30 a.m. Sunday on the Mustang Course at Ross Rogers.

Follow the leaderboard

For a look at Saturday’s third round leaderboard, and Sunday’s final round pairings, please visit https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/12393673620566617992

Photo gallery by Carter Pirtle: