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Tribune News Service
Sport
Drew Davison

Colonial doesn't feel like a major, but it's got a major logjam heading into Sunday

FORT WORTH, Texas _ Xander Schauffele wouldn't say this year's Charles Schwab Challenge has a major championship feel to it. It's hard to draw that comparison without thousands of fans roaming the course.

But it does have a major-esque leaderboard going into Sunday's final round with 14 players within three shots of the lead.

Schauffele is the clubhouse leader at 13-under after firing a 4-under 66 on Saturday. Playing with No. 1-ranked Rory McIlroy, Schauffele put together a solid round with six birdies and two bogeys. He broke what once was a six-way tie for the lead by draining a 12-footer for birdie on No. 18.

"It just does feel like I'm playing at home with some of my buddies. It's quiet," said Schauffele, the No. 12-ranked player in the world. "You make three birdies in a row, you can kind of give yourself a pat on the back. That's kind of it."

Schauffele has plenty of work to do to secure his fifth PGA Tour victory. There are plenty of household names chasing him.

Local favorite Jordan Spieth is among five tied for second at 12-under. Spieth held the lead when he made the turn at 13-under, but dropped a shot with a bogey on No. 15.

Reigning U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, No. 4-ranked Justin Thomas, Branden Grace and Collin Morikawa are others sitting at 12-under. Daniel Berger and Harold Varner III are two back at 11-under. And Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, Bryson DeChambeau, Abraham Ancer, Corey Conners and McIlroy are three shots back at 10-under.

All of it has the makings for an entertaining Sunday. Saturday didn't disappoint.

There were highlights such as Spieth chipping in for birdie on No. 2 or Thomas sticking it to within three feet for a tap-in birdie on No. 17. And there were moments where players struggled such as McIlroy making one of just eight bogeys carded on No. 8, or Rose three-putting from 17 feet for bogey on No. 16.

"It's a bunched leaderboard now with a lot of great players, so you've got to expect someone is going to shoot a low one," Spieth said. "For me, I'm just going to kind of fire away."

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