Ben Griffin is set for a high-stakes final round at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he shares the lead with Matti Schmid. Griffin, who recently celebrated his first PGA Tour victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside Andrew Novak, now finds himself in a position to secure another title solo.
After carding a 2-under 68 in challenging conditions at Colonial Country Club, Griffin stands at 13-under par, tied for first. This marks the third occasion this year that he has held the lead after 54 holes in an individual stroke-play event, having experienced setbacks in the previous two instances. However, having tasted victory recently, Griffin feels a renewed confidence. “I’m a PGA Tour winner now, so that helps,” he stated as he prepares for Sunday.
Schmid, too, is on the verge of his first individual title on the PGA Tour. The talented German golfer, who tied with Griffin on Saturday with another 68, has an impressive track record, having previously earned back-to-back European Amateur titles and low amateur honors at the 2021 Open Championship. In his 14 starts this season, he has achieved three top-10 finishes, and he aims to leverage that experience in the final round.
The pair leads a significant gap over Rickie Fowler, who is six strokes behind at 7-under. Griffin mentioned that Sunday is poised to play out like a match-play scenario between him and Schmid, making for an exciting showdown.
As both players vie for their first individual title, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the tournament. Spectators can look forward to a competitive duel, and regardless of the outcome, both Griffin and Schmid are proving to be rising stars in the sport.