Varner, Kraft tied for lead at Greenbrier, while Watson moves into contention
Harold Varner and Kelly Kraft are looking to add to the crop of first-time winners on the PGA Tour in West Virginia.
Varner shot a 4-under 66 Saturday to tie Kraft at the top entering the final round of A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in White Sulpher Springs, W.Va.
Both are seeking their first tour wins in their 85th starts. Since this tournament debuted in 2010, there have been four first-time champions, but no third-round leader has won.
"I wish we could go play right now," Varner said. "I'm pretty hungry. This is what you work for. This is what I get so pumped up to do."
Varner had four back-nine birdies after 10 consecutive pars to catch Kraft, the second-round leader who let a four-stroke lead slip away and shot 1-under 69. Both were at 14-under 196. Varner's best finish on tour was a tie for fifth at the OHL Classic in Mexico in 2016. He has one top-10 finish in each of the past two years and won the Australian PGA Championship in 2016.
"I guess this whole thing's new to me because I've never had a lead going into the last day," Varner said. "But I don't really lack confidence. That's never really been a problem. I just need to slow down and take it all in.”
Kraft, who finished fifth in last year's tournament, refused to get down on himself despite bogeys on two of his final three holes Saturday.
"I'm just going to stay patient tomorrow," he said. "I hit a lot of good shots today."
Fifteen golfers were within five shots of the lead. The tournament has been decided by two or fewer strokes every year and has gone to a playoff three times. The 2016 tournament was canceled after devastating floods.
The Old White TPC dried out on a sunny Saturday and scores weren't as low as the first two days when rains softened the course and yielded eight rounds of 63 or better.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele and Kevin Na were at 13 under. Both shot 65. Sam Saunders was alone in fifth place at 12 under after a 67.
Bubba Watson shot 65 and was among three players at 11 under. Watson hopes to add this tournament to his three other wins this season.
Watson wants to honor his late father, Gerry, a Green Beret who fought in the Vietnam War. Watson owns a vacation home at The Greenbrier Sporting Club. He and his wife, Angie, contributed significantly both in money and in volunteer work during local relief efforts after June 2016 floods killed 23 people statewide and forced the tournament to be canceled two weeks later. "Big day tomorrow," Watson said.