FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 30: Eric Cole of the United States plays a shot on the fifth hole during the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge 2026 at Colonial Country Club on May 30, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
FORT WORTH — After two days of yielding low scores in the Charles Schwab Challenge, Colonial Country Club showed more of its teeth in Saturday’s third round.
Nobody handled the changing conditions better than Eric Cole, a 37-year-old journeyman who knows something about persistence.
Cole shot the low round of the tournament and his low round of the season, a 63, for a 54-hole score of 12-under-par and a one-shot lead going into Sunday’s final round.
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“It was a great day,’’ Cole said. “Everything was working well. I knew going in it was going to be a harder course with firmer conditions. I just kept trying to hit good shots one after the next and make birdies when I could.’’
He made eight birdies, four on each side, and one bogey, on No. 15. Cole quickly made amends for the hiccup, chipping in for birdie on the next hole.
Less than a third of the field managed to break par because of more heat and wind and firmer, less receptive greens. While most were sliding down the leaderboard, Cole was vaulting two dozen players.
Other than needing only 24 putts, it was not an impressive statistical round for Cole. He was 50% in driving accuracy and hit 13 greens in regulation. But his short-game scrambling kept his round going. The chip-in birdie at No. 16 came from 27 feet, the ball circling the cup before dropping.
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Cole, No. 117 in the World Ranking, gained notoriety by winning the PGA Rookie of the Year award in 2023 at age 35. The late-bloomer is the son of professional golfing parents Laura Baugh and Bobby Cole. Eric turned pro in 2009 and had a long, testing wait before gaining PGA Tour status. The Florida resident is playing in the Challenge for the fourth time, and his best previous finish is a tie for 28th in 2025. His father played the event seven times.
One shot behind the leader in second place at 11 under is Ryan Gerard, who birdied his final two holes.
“I’m happy I did that, but I think that’s not something I’m going to dwell on,” said Gerard, who leads the field in strokes gained putting. “I’m excited about the finish, but it’s an expectation to finish rounds strong and kind of run through that finish line, you don’t ever want to be just limping across.”
Mac Meissner and J.J. Spaun are tied for third at 10 under.
Coming off two top-10s in the last three weeks, Meissner continued his steady play with a second consecutive 67. He opened with a 66 on Thursday.
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“I like how I drove it on the front nine, I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities,’’ Meissner said, seeking his first PGA Tour win. “On the holes where I did miss greens, I gave myself pretty easy up-and-down, which is kind of important out here.’’
The Charles Schwab Challenge is almost a home game for Meissner, a 27-year-old Dallas resident and a former SMU standout. His wife is from Fort Worth and her parents live close to the course.
“It’s been so much fun staying with my wife’s parents. Matt McCarty and his caddie have been staying with us, too. We’ve had a fun week.’’
Spaun, defending U.S. Open champion and more recently winner in San Antonio, made five birdies and three bogeys en route to a 68.
“Only being two back right now, you can make that up so quickly around here with some of these holes if the conditions are like today,’’ Spaun said.
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FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 29: J.J. Spaun of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green during the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge 2026 at Colonial Country Club on May 29, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Russell Henley, Hideki Matsuyama and Alex Smalley are tied for fifth at 9 under.
The crowded leaderboard began to thin out on the testing first nine at Colonial. At 1:30 p.m., there was a seven-way tie for the lead. A half-hour later only two were on top, Cole and Meissner.
Cole’s opportunity for his first PGA Tour victory awaits Sunday.
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“It’s not going to be an easy day tomorrow,’’ Cole said. “I know that from experience. But that’s why I practice really hard so I can be prepared for whatever Sunday brings.’’
Notable: Plano’s Pierceson Coody saved his best third-round shot for the final hole, a 135-yard approach to within two feet, to set up a birdie at No. 18. Two holes earlier, Coody canned a 28-foot birdie putt at the par-3 16th to snap a string of 13 consecutive pars. Coody’s round of 68 leaves him at 4 under. … Michael Thorbjornsen ended up flat on his back after losing his balance on an awkward explosion shot from a greenside bunker at No. 1. The follow-through sent Thorbjornsen backward and he landed on the grass. … Dallas residents Tom Kim and Austin Smotherman were paired in the same threesome on Saturday. Kim, a 23-year-old from Korea, shot par to remain 4 under. Smotherman, 32, a former SMU Mustang, shot 71 and is at 3 under. … Nico Echavarria of Colombia recorded the second-best score of the day, a 65, and is four shots out of the lead.