Trace Crowe has just 50 starts on the PGA Tour, but he knows no one can coast to the finish line in this sport.
"I've been doing this long enough to know that everyone's really good and they're just going to keep making birdies," Crowe said Saturday. "My mindset tomorrow is to go attack the day and see what it gives, but just try to play the best I can and hopefully it come out on top."
Crowe has been attacking the Fazio Canyons Course at Omni Barton Creek resort all week, and he'll take the solo lead into the final round at the 2026 Austin Championship, where he seeks his first PGA Tour victory.
Playing in the final group in Saturday's third round, Crowe started with a birdie at the first, but back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 3 and 4 and again at Nos. 10
and 11 set him back. He offset them with birdies at the fifth, ninth and 14th, then finished strong with two more birdies on the final two holes to cap off a 1-under 71, getting him to 14 under for the tournament, one shot clear of a three-way tie for second.
"[It was] very difficult. Just being in that position just in the final group and, you know, made a nice putt on 1 to get it going, then got smacked in the face on 3 and 4, and then it was pretty much head down for the rest of the day, just kind of up and down round. Yeah, really pleased with the last two."
Crowe is a two-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour, but he's never tasted victory in the big leagues. He's not treating the Austin Championship any differently, though.
"I think [my game plan is] just keep doing what I'm doing," Crowe said. "Just got to drive it on the fairway. Like you said, it's going to be challenging tomorrow. I think just kind of keeping your head down, being patient and just seeing where it puts us at the end. Have to make a few putts.
"Another golf tournament."
One of the men just one shot off the lead is Erik van Rooyen, who shot 3-under 69 Saturday to put himself in a tie for second with Chad Ramey and Sami Valimaki. Van Rooyen was hot out of the gate in the third round, making four birdies in his first six holes, but stumbled with a bogey at No. 8 and a double bogey at No. 9. He got those strokes back with birdies at Nos. 12, 14 and 18.
"Yeah, pretty upset about the double on 9. For me, that was such a difficult shot, I had to take some off a 6-iron and try and draw it. Left's no good. Obviously it's better than hitting in the water, I understand, but I tried to just hit a little draw that would hold into the wind, and ball below my feet started right. But yeah, to keep the emotions in check, my caddie just kind of whispered, like you know you're playing great. Knowing that in the back of your mind makes it easier making the turn."
Valimaki, meanwhile, is just a week removed from defending his title at the RSM Classic in Georgia next week.
"I don't know what is all about in this kind of late, but I feel like I've been playing many years now pretty good later in the season. It's nice to show it up."
Valimaki and Ramey will join the solo leader, Crowe, in the final group Sunday, teeing off at 10:01 a.m. ET.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Seeking first PGA Tour win, Trace Crowe takes solo lead into Sunday at Austin Championship
