Eric Cole takes 54-hole lead at Charles Schwab Challenge

Eric Cole posted a season-best 7-under 63 on Saturday to reach 12-under 198 and take a one-stroke lead after 54 holes at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Cole birdied four of his first eight holes and added two more birdies on the back nine, with his lone bogey coming at the par-4 15th.

A chip-in from 27 feet at the par-3 16th and an approach inside five feet at the 14th helped him match the lowest round of the week.

conditions Ryan Gerard finished with back-to-back birdies for a 68 and stands at 11 under. Mac Meissner shot 67 and J.J. Spaun shot 68 to sit two strokes back at 10 under. Spaun birdied the 15th from a greenside bunker after earlier bogeys. The course firmed under 90-degree heat after earlier rain, and the third-round scoring average rose to 71.2.

outlook Cole, 37, is making his 120th PGA Tour start and will play in the final group Sunday on his mother's 71st birthday. His mother, Laura Baugh, was the LPGA rookie of the year in 1973; his father, Bobby Cole, won once on the PGA Tour. Cole last reached the final group at the 2025 Sony Open, where he finished fifth.

He said the firmer conditions made the start crucial and that he expects a difficult final round.

“I kind of knew going into it that it was going to be a harder course, firmer conditions. Getting off to that start and realizing how much harder the course was today was great.”