The Charles Schwab Challenge appears to be heading for a tight finish with several contenders on the back nine of the final round at Colonial Country Club.
Eric Cole is one. He's bidding for his maiden PGA Tour title, while JJ Spaun is looking for his second win of the season. Michael Brennan, meanwhile, is in the running for his second PGA Tour win. However, they face stiff competition from the likes of Ryan Gerard and defending champion Ben Griffin.
Others in contention include Texas Children's Houston Open champion Gary Woodland, Mackenzie Hughes and Mac Meissner, all looking to keep the pressure on over the closing holes.
Charles Schwab Challenge Leaderboard
- 1st -12 Eric Cole
- T2 -11 Michael Brennan
- T2 -11 Ben Griffin (65)
- T4 -10 JJ Spaun
- T4 -10 Mac Meissner
- T4 -10 Alex Smalley
- T4 -10 Mackenzie Hughes
Updates from...
PAR FOR COLE AT THE 14TH
After a crazy few minutes around the turn, things have definitely settled down. There's still plenty to play for, with Cole leading by one and at least five others in serious contention, but right now there's little movement at the top of the leaderboard.
Cole's second at 14 reaches the green, leaving a long birdie chance. It's a good try, but goes past and that'll be a par.
NOT QUITE FOR BRENNAN
At the 14th, JJ Spaun stays in touch with a par, while two holes on, Michael Brennan's birdie putt drifts right. Eric Cole retains his one-shot lead.
LIP-OUT FOR BEN GRIFFIN AT 18
So close for Ben Griffin, who very, very nearly birdies to the last to join leader Eric Cole, but it lips out to leave him stranded on 11 under. He'll be an interested observer with things so tight and Cole wobbling at times, but that could be enough to end his chances of successfully defending his title.
This close to tying the lead 😲Ben Griffin sits at T2 after a near miss from 50 feet. https://t.co/36w1a9BfTo pic.twitter.com/1SpQAw6hB7May 31, 2026
SETBACK FOR SPAUN
JJ Spaun is having quite the afternoon. The Valero Texas Open champion has four birdies so far, but he now has four bogeys, the latest at the 13th to drop him back to T4 at 10 under.
BEN GRIFFIN STILL IN IT!
Defending champion Ben Griffin picks an excellent time for his first birdie since the ninth, getting another at the 17th to move to 11 under, one back of the leader.
INCONSISTENT FROM LEADER
Despite leading, Eric Cole is in the midst of an erratic spell here. His tee shot at 12 arrows straight into a bunker to give him something to think about.
NIP AND TUCK AT THE TOP
Michael Brennan briefly ties the lead with Eric Cole with a birdie at the 12th, but that doesn't last long. Moments later, Cole responds with a long birdie putt at the 11th to restore his one-shot lead.
TROUBLE FOR GERARD
Ryan Gerard, one back of Cole, finds problems with his second at the par-5 11th. It disappears into some trees and down a ravine and the upshot is, his next shot will be his fourth.
He goes onto make a bogey.
ERIC COLE REGAINS SOLO LEAD
Maybe Eric Cole's nerves will be settled further by a bogey from co-leader Michael Brennan at 12.
That ensures Cole leads by one again. Moments later, JJ Spaun eyes a chance to join him at the 11th, but his birdie putt just stays out.
NOT EVEN CLOSE
The error that led to Cole's double-bogey at 9 didn't just miss its intended target, it didn't get close, as you can see here.
Winning is hard.A costly double bogey takes away Eric Cole’s two-shot lead @CSChallengeFW. pic.twitter.com/IJyilUCaLGMay 31, 2026
QUITE THE STAT...
An incredible stat about PGA Tour Rookies of the Year and their wins. When this was posted, Cole led by one, but now that's been extinguished.
Since being first awarded in 1990, there have been 36 winners of the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year (Arnold Palmer Award), combining for 277 wins. Eric Cole (2023) is the only player on that list yet to win on TOUR. He currently leads the Charles Schwab Challenge by one stroke.May 31, 2026
ALL CHANGE AT THE TOP
For much of his round, Eric Cole had looked assured, with the chance to claim his maiden PGA Tour title seemingly leaving him unaffected.
That's all changed with a horrendous moment for him at the ninth. He led by two at that point, but a double-bogey after finding the water means he's now level with Michael Brennan.
JJ Spaun also briefly shared the lead, but he bogeyed the 10th to add to a frenetic few minutes at Colonial.
The good news for Cole is that he makes a nice enough par at 10, and maybe that will settle him down.
WELCOME!
Welcome to our coverage of the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge, where Eric Cole has recently double-bogeyed to let in Michael Brennan.
With plenty of other contenders in the mix, follow along to see who gets their hands on the trophy.