Griffin Leads as Scheffler Charges into Contention at Procore Championship
Ben Griffin, a rookie on the Ryder Cup team, maintains a narrow one-shot lead as he heads into the final round of the Procore Championship at Silverado Resort in Napa. Griffin concluded the third round with a score of two-under 70, bringing his total to 16 under, despite a bogey on the par-five last hole. His lead has diminished from a three-shot advantage at the halfway mark, with world number one amateur Jackson Koivun closing in after posting a third-round score of 68.
Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler, the reigning world number one, surged into contention with an impressive eight-under 64, leaving him just two shots behind Griffin. South African golfer Garrick Higgo sits in fourth place at 13 under, while fellow Ryder Cup members JJ Spaun and Russell Henley fell back to nine under after rounds of 72 and 74, respectively. Cam Young is the only other member of Keegan Bradley‘s Ryder Cup side in the top 20, tied for 17th at seven under.
Scheffler’s performance in the third round was marked by a strong start, making three consecutive birdies from the third hole. He added another three birdies from the eighth, despite a double-bogey at the 14th after his tee shot landed in thick rough. Scheffler recovered well, finishing the round with three birdies in the last four holes, which included two on par fives.
“I just focused on playing consistent golf,” Scheffler stated. “If I hit a lot of greens and holed some putts, I knew I could move up the leaderboard.”
Griffin, on the other hand, managed three birdies during his round but faced a challenging finish. He carded his first bogey of the week at the last hole, where his third shot fell short of the green, leading to a difficult chip shot that left him scrambling to maintain his lead.
“Not too worried about what he [Scheffler] is going to do,” Griffin explained. “I’ve just got to play better than him. If I do that tomorrow, I should be able to lift the trophy.” He acknowledged the presence of other contenders but recognized Scheffler’s formidable skills.
The final round of the Procore Championship promises to be an exciting showdown. Golf fans can catch the action on Sunday from 11:00 PM on Sky Sports Golf.
