Harold Varner III has never won on the PGA Tour but he will have a chance to break through in the final round of the Military Tribute at the Greenbrier.
The 27-year-old Varner shot 4-under-par 65 in the third round on the TPC Old White at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., to tie Kelly Kraft for the lead after 54 holes.
“That would be awesome (to get his first victory),” said Varner, whose only pro title came in the 2016 Australian PGA Championship. “That’s what we play for, what we strive for, to put ourselves in that position. But I’m going to go out and just play golf, try not to think about it. I just want to have fun with it.
“It was super solid today. I played very well, but not perfect. I was just seeing my targets and making some putts. Mentally, I just want to make good decisions, play good golf and give myself a chance.”
Varner collected four birdies on the back nine in his bogey-free round and caught Kraft at 14-under 196.
Kraft built a four-stroke lead with three straight birdies to start the back nine, but he came back to the pack with two late bogeys that left him at 69.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State holed a 22-foot bunker shot for an eagle on the 17th hole en route to a 65 and is one stroke back in a tie for third with Kevin Na of Diamond Bar, who sank a 28-foot eagle putt at No. 12 in his own 65.
Sam Saunders totaled 67 and is two down in solo fifth, while Bubba Watson made four birdies down the stretch for a 65 and is one more down in a tie for sixth with Joel Dahmen, who finished at 67, and Anirban Lahiri of India, who wound up at 71.
Jamie Lovemark of USC and Rancho Santa Fe shot 67 and is four shots behind in a tie for ninth with Ryan Moore (67), Bronson Burgoon (65), Ryan Armour (67) and Jason Kokrak (71).
Phil Mickelson carded a 70 and is tied for 38th.
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