HOUSTON (AFP) — Germany's Matti Schmid and American Ben Griffin each fired a two-under par 68 to share the lead after Saturday's third round of the PGA Tour's Charles Schwab Challenge.

Schmid, chasing his first PGA title, and Griffin, who captured his first victory in a pairs event last month, both stood on 13-under 197 after 54 holes at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

"I'm a PGA Tour winner now, so that helps. Going into tomorrow very confident," Griffin said.

"I feel like I'm in a really good spot. It seems like me and Matti are going to duel it out a little bit tomorrow, at least try to take advantage of our leads.”

"So the pedal is going to be down. I'm excited to get back out there. Excited to go and see what I can do."

American Rickie Fowler was third on 201 after a 67 with Scotsman Robert MacIntyre and Americans Nick Hardy and Akshay Bhatia on 202 and world number one Scottie Scheffler in a pack sharing seventh on 203.

"I think I'll have an outside chance," Scheffler said.

"I'll see if I can get out a little earlier than the leaders and post a number."

Schmid's best career PGA Tour finish is third, which he has managed three times, most recently last October in Las Vegas.

"A lot of things could happen, so I was just focused on my game trying to execute as good as I can," Schmid said.

"I've had a few close calls also on the European Tour. I also played some nice final rounds this year too, so hopefully I can just put one more up there tomorrow, and hopefully that's enough."

Griffin took his first PGA title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans pairs event with Andrew Novak and came in off his best major result, a share of eighth at last week's PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.

There was drama late as Schmid sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-three 16th to grab the solo lead while Griffin went over the green at 16 but sank a par putt from just beyond seven feet to stay within one.