Blaine, Minn.-Thorbjorn Oesen accepted the par-3 eighth and shot a 4-under 67 in the 3M on Saturday for part of the third round lead with Akshay Bhatia.
Olesen, the 35-year-old Danish player who led after the second round, used a 6-iron on the eighth of 209 meters in the TPC Twin Cities.
“It was a backs. It just felt like I couldn’t get there with a 7, so we went for a soft 6 iron,” Olesen said. “It is clear that the slope has been taken perfectly, a big bonus to see him go inside. It has been a long time since I had one.”
Bhatia had a 63 to be posted on 18 under 195.
“I chipped in it twice, made a lot of putts,” Bhatia said. “Many putts came in, which was very nice to see. All in all, just a pretty solid round. The feeling that I had played pretty well today.
Kurt Kitayama corresponded to the tournament and the course record with a 60, ending before Olesen and Jake Knapp were finished in the final group, to get to 17. Colleague Japanese player Takumi Kanaya (65) was also 17 with Knapp (67) and Sam Stevens (66).
Oleesen followed the hole-in-one with a bogey at no. 9. On the back nine, Birdied nrs. 13-14, three-tread the 15th for Bogey, Birdied the Korte Par-4 16th and the last two. The eight-time European Tour winner is chasing the first PGA Tour title.
“It’s clearly different and it’s a big chance,” said Olesen. “I’m not going to lie, there will be a lot of pressure, but I felt that I treated pretty well in my career. Of course, the victories on the DP World Tour, but Ryder Cups, too.”
Bhatia, the 23-year-old Californian player with two PGA Tour victories, broke in from 42 feet for Birdie on the fifth and from 55 feet for another Birdie on 11.
Olesen fires an ace on the 3M Open 8th
Thorbjørn Olesen comes from the par-3 8th in one in TPC Twin Cities and grabs part of the 3M open lead in the third round.
“I just try to play solid wave and hopefully the cards will fall in my way tomorrow,” Bhatia said.
Kitayama corresponded to the tournament park of Adam Svensson in the first round. Paul Goydos also has part of the course record and shoots 60 in the 3M championship 2017 at the PGA Tour champions.
Kitayama had 12 birdies and a bogey. He played the front nine in 7-under 28.
“I just went out a bit,” said Kitayama. “I don’t think you really have a song that comes out in a round, just take a little bit you can get.”
Knapp dropped a stroke on the 17th for his lonely bogey of the week
NCAA winner Michael La Sasso of Mississippi was in 16th place at 13 after a 63. The amateur missed the cut last week in the Barracuda Championship.
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