PGA Tour golf: Thorbjorn Olesen shares lead with Akshay Bhatia at 3M Open

Thorbjorn Olesen aced the par three eighth and shot a 4 underneath 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 again pin. It simply felt like I could not get there with a seven, so we went for a gentle six-iron,” Olesen stated. “Clearly, took the slope completely, an enormous bonus to see it go in. It has been a very long time since I’ve had one.”

Bhatia had a 63 to submit first at 18 underneath.

“I chipped in twice, made loads of putts,” Bhatia stated. “A whole lot of putts lipped in, which was very nice to see. All in all, only a fairly strong spherical. Felt like I did a reasonably good job of enjoying out of the tough right this moment. I did not hit it significantly nice off the tee, however fortunately greens are gentle sufficient to the place you’ll be able to type of try this.”

Kurt Kitayama matched the event and course file with a 60, ending earlier than Olesen and Jake Knapp teed off within the remaining group, to get to 17 underneath. Fellow Japanese participant Takumi Kanaya (65) additionally was 17 underneath 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 is clearly completely different and it is a massive alternative,” Olesen stated. “I am not going to lie, there’s going to be loads of stress, however I felt like in my profession I’ve dealt fairly effectively with stress. Clearly, the wins on the DP World Tour, however Ryder Cups, additionally.”

Bhatia, the 23-year-old California participant with two PGA Tour victories, chipped in from 42 toes for birdie on the fifth and from 55 toes for one more birdie on 11.

“I am simply making an attempt to play strong golf and hopefully the playing cards fall my approach tomorrow,” Bhatia stated.

Kitayama matched the event mark set by Adam Svensson within the first spherical. Paul Goydos additionally has a share of the course file, taking pictures 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 underneath 28.

“I used to be simply type of going on the market,” Kitayama stated. “I do not suppose you actually have a quantity going out into any spherical, simply type of take what you may get.”

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