Thorbjorn Olesen aced the par three eighth and shot a 4 below 67 on Saturday within the 3M Open for a share of the third-round lead with Akshay Bhatia.
Olesen, the 35-year-old Danish participant who led after the second spherical, used a six-iron on the 209-yard eighth on the TPC Twin Cities.
“It was a back pin. It just felt like I couldn’t get there with a seven, so we went for a soft six-iron,” Olesen mentioned. “Obviously, took the slope perfectly, a big bonus to see it go in. It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.”
Bhatia had a 63 to submit first at 18 below.
“I chipped in twice, made a lot of putts,” Bhatia mentioned. “A lot of putts lipped in, which was really nice to see. All in all, just a pretty solid round. Felt like I did a pretty good job of playing out of the rough today. I didn’t hit it particularly great off the tee, but thankfully greens are soft enough to where you can kind of do that.”
Kurt Kitayama matched the event and course file with a 60, ending earlier than Olesen and Jake Knapp teed off within the ultimate group, to get to 17 below. Fellow Japanese participant Takumi Kanaya (65) additionally was 17 below with Knapp (67) and Sam Stevens (66).
Olesen adopted the hole-in-one with a bogey on 9. On the again 9, he birdied 13 and 14, three-putted the fifteenth for bogey, birdied the quick par 4 sixteenth and parred the ultimate two. The eight-time European tour winner is chasing first PGA Tour title.
“It’s obviously different and it’s a big opportunity,” Olesen mentioned. “I’m not going to lie, there’s going to be a lot of pressure, but I felt like in my career I’ve dealt pretty well with pressure. Obviously, the wins on the DP World Tour, but Ryder Cups, also.”
Bhatia, the 23-year-old California participant with two PGA Tour victories, chipped in from 42 ft for birdie on the fifth and from 55 ft for one more birdie on 11.
“I’m just trying to play solid golf and hopefully the cards fall my way tomorrow,” Bhatia mentioned.
Kitayama matched the event mark set by Adam Svensson within the first spherical. Paul Goydos additionally has a share of the course file, capturing 60 within the 2017 3M Championship on the PGA Tour Champions. Kitayama had 12 birdies and a bogey. He performed the entrance 9 in seven below 28.
“I was just kind of going out there,” Kitayama mentioned. “I don’t think you really have a number going out into any round, just kind of take what you can get.”
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