PGA Tour rookie Jackson Koivun shot a 10-under-par 61 during the third round of the 3M Open on Saturday, establishing a three-stroke lead at 20-under 193. Playing at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn., the 21-year-old set a tournament record by carding a 28 on the back nine to separate from the pack on a still and steamy afternoon.
Record-Breaking Third Round
Koivun’s bogey-free performance included six birdies and two eagles. He recorded an eagle 3 on No. 12 with a 12-foot putt and capped his round with a 14-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole. Koivun noted that he hit the ground running
after getting a good break on the ninth hole, eventually playing the final 10 holes in 9-under par to take a three-shot lead.
This result follows a 64 on Thursday and a 68 on Friday. Koivun also tied for 10th place two weeks ago at the ISCO Championship in Kentucky. He is currently competing in his third tournament as a professional after turning pro last month following the U.S. Open Championship.
The Leaderboard and Chasers
Ben Kohles and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo are tied for second place at 17-under par, both posting bogey-free 65s. Kohles previously led after the first round, while Grillo recorded an eagle on No. 18 shortly after Koivun did. Following them in fourth place are Michael Brennan, who shot a 63, and Chandler Phillips, who shot a 66, both at 16-under.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is six strokes behind the lead in a four-way tie for ninth at 14-under. Scheffler recovered from a front-nine 35 by shooting a 29 on the back nine, including an eagle chip from the greenside rough on the par-4 16th. Other players tied at 14-under include Brian Harman, Davis Thompson, and Ireland’s Seamus Power. Additionally, Denny McCarthy, Billy Horschel, and Michael Kim are tied for sixth at 15-under.
Professional Transition and Pedigree
Koivun entered the PGA Tour as the top-ranked amateur player and a two-time winner of the Jack Nicklaus Award for the top collegiate player after a standout career at Auburn. During his time at Auburn, he was a two-time national champion, led the Tigers to a team title, and set an NCAA record for stroke average at 68.89. He announced last month that he would forgo his senior collegiate season to turn professional.
Final Round Outlook
Entering Sunday’s final round, Koivun expressed both excitement and caution, stating, I definitely felt some nerves.
He acknowledged that the final day will be a test, noting that some of the pins will be tucked
and that he intends to stick to his game plan while trying to smile as he pursues his first professional victory.
The final round pairings include Koivun and Emiliano Grillo teeing off at 1:40 p.m. Other notable pairings include Scottie Scheffler and Brian Harman at 10:30 a.m., and Ben Kohles and Michael Brennan at 1:30 p.m.
3M Open Standings (After Round 3)
| Player | Score | Total (Under Par) |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Koivun | 61 | -20 |
| Emiliano Grillo | 65 | -17 |
| Ben Kohles | 65 | -17 |
| Michael Brennan | 63 | -16 |
| Chandler Phillips | 66 | -16 |
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