BRAINE, Minnesota – Sobjorn Olesen made his eighth par 3 and shot a 4-under 67 at the 3M open on Saturday.
Olesen, a 35-year-old Danish player who led after the second round, used a six-iron for 209 yards and eighth at TPC Twin City.
“It was a backpin. I felt like I couldn’t get there at the 7 so I went for the soft six iron,” Olesen said. “It was obviously a huge bonus to take the slope completely and see it in.
Batia had 63 to post first with 195 under 18 under.
“I chipped in twice and made a lot of putts,” Batya said. “A lot of putts took it in. It was really seen. Overall, it’s a pretty solid round. Playing rough today felt like he did a pretty good job.
Kurt Kitayama matched the tournament and course record for 60, with Olesen and Jake Knapp finishing before the tee off in the final group, reaching 17 under. A fellow Japanese player Kanaya (65), Knapp (67) and Sam Stevens (66) were under the age of 17.
Olesen scored a bogey on the 9th, following the hole-in-one. On the back nine, he birdied 13-14, putts 15th place three times for a bogey, birdied 16th place with a short par 4, interpreting the final two. The winners of eight tours in Europe are chasing their first PGA tour title.
“It’s clearly different and it’s a huge opportunity,” Olesen said. “I’m not going to lie. There’s a lot of pressure, but I feel like I’ve dealt with the pressure quite well in my career. Obviously it’s a victory on the DP World Tour, but the Ryder Cup.”
Batia, a 23-year-old California player who won the 23-year-old PGA Tour victory, tipped in from 42 feet for the fifth birdie and from 55 feet for another birdie of 11.
“I’m just trying to play solid golf and hopefully my cards fall in the middle of me tomorrow,” Batia said.
Kitayama matched the tournament mark set by Adam Svenson in the first round. Paul Goydos also has a share of the course record that recorded 60 filmed at the 2017 3M Championship for the PGA Tour Championship.
Kitayama had 12 birdies and bogies. He played Front 9 with 7 under 28.
“I just went out there,” Kitayama said. “I don’t think there’s really anyone out there who’s going out for the rounds. I’ll just take what you can get.”
Knap dropped strokes on the 17th due to his lonely bogey
Mississippi NCAA winner Michael La Sasso came in 16th at 13 under the age of 63. The amateur missed the cut at the Barracuda Championship last week.
