In 2021, Ben Griffin was working as a loan officer for a mortgage group in North Carolina. Fast forward two years, and he’s 18 holes away from being a PGA Tour winner.
Griffin, using a bogey-free 6-under 66 on Saturday, leads the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi by three shots at 20 under. Carl Yuan is alone in second at 17 under after a 5-under 67 on Day 3.
The 27-year-old Griffin made a trio of birdies on both nines during his third round and made several clutch saves along the way. He was feeling it with the flat stick, confidently walking in putts as his lead continued to grow.
Pouring them in from everywhere 🐦
Leader @BenGriffinGolf is feeling it @Sanderson_Champ. pic.twitter.com/AP5FdFCgNh
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 7, 2023
“Very proud of myself the way I stuck to the game plan,” Griffin said after signing his card, “and I missed a few tee shots on the back nine but was able to escape, and that’s always been one of the strengths of my career.
“As much as I want to be aggressive, I’ve learned on the PGA Tour you’ve got to be extremely disciplined. It’s fun when I mis-hit shots because it gives me the opportunity to pull off something creative, but it’s a lot more fun when you have stress-free golf, and I felt like I did a good job of that for probably 14, 15 holes today.”
Sanderson Farms: Sunday tee times, how to watch
Tied for third are Scott Stallings (7-under 65), Henrik Norlander (4-under 68) and Luke List (4-under 68).
“I feel really comfortable here, and the course is only going to get a little bit faster as it goes along, but I still think it would be very receptive, and the scores will continue to be good,” Stallings told the media after his round.
Final-round coverage will air on Golf Channel from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. ET Sunday.
