Waterford’s Séamus Power was back to his best in Saturday’s third round of the 3M Open as the 39-year-old posted a bogey-free eight-under-par round to propel himself into the top-10 as he takes on the final round in T9 at 14-under, six strokes back from the leader Jackson Koivun.
Power made back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth to kick start his rampant round before making two more at the seventh and ninth to take the turn at four-under.
Power’s back nine was identical to his first, making two early birdies at the 12th and 14th before adding two more at the 16th and 18th. Power seems to love the par-5 18th, as he has played it five-under-par this weekend.
New PGA TOUR member Jackson Koivun shot a 61 in the third round of the 3M Open on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead at 20-under par, setting a tournament record with a 28 on the back nine at the TPC Twin Cities.
The 21-year-old Koivun, who was the top-ranked amateur player after a standout college career at Auburn and turned pro last month following the U.S. Open Championship, had two eagles and six birdies to separate from the pack.
“Obviously 61 is great. Just excited to be able to go out there and shoot my personal best,” Koivun said.
“Just got to keep the foot on the gas,” Koivun said. “After 12 and 13 I saw myself at No. 1 and I make two pars and I’m back to (tied for 1st), which is kind of a mental reset for me going into 16, 17, 18. Was able to hit a couple good shots in those and kind of put myself in position for tomorrow,” he added.
Both Emiliano Grillo and Ben Kohles share T2 at 17-under after the pair posted a third round 65.
Kohles is having his own tidy summertime stretch of results, with three top 25s in a row. He finished tied for third at the John Deere, a tournament he very much had an opportunity to win until a final-hole double bogey.
“Luckily, I was in the same position a couple weeks ago at John Deere. I played really good in that final round in the last group, so I know kind of what it takes and feeling the same kind of things,” Kohles said. “I’ve obviously been playing really well and just going to keep the pedal down and try to make a bunch of birdies tomorrow.”
Scottie Scheffler joins Power at T9 after the world no.1 posted a 64 which saw a 29 on the back nine. Scheffler made nine birdies and an eagle. Scheffler chipped in for a two at the par-4 16th.
“Golf’s funny like that,” Scheffler said Saturday after his round. “I didn’t really feel like I was that much different on the back nine than I was on the front, just I holed a couple putts and hit the ball just slightly closer on the back nine.”
“We’ll see how far back I am going into tomorrow but shouldn’t be out of the tournament,” Scheffler said. “Another low number tomorrow and should be able to give myself a decent chance,” he added.
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