Jul 26, 2025, 07:16 PM ET<\/p>\n
BLAINE, Minn. — Thorbjorn Olesen<\/a> aced the par-3 eighth and shot a 4-under 67 on Saturday in the 3M Open for a share of the third-round lead with Akshay Bhatia<\/a>.<\/p>\n Olesen, the 35-year-old Danish player who led after the second round, used a 6-iron on the 209-yard eighth at the TPC Twin Cities.<\/p>\n “It was a back pin. It just felt like I couldn’t get there with a 7, so we went for a soft 6-iron,” Olesen said. “Obviously, took the slope perfectly, a big bonus to see it go in. It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.”<\/p>\n Bhatia had a 63 to post first at 18-under 195.<\/p>\n “I chipped in twice, made a lot of putts,” Bhatia said. “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.”<\/p>\n Kurt Kitayama<\/a> matched the tournament and course record with a 60, finishing before Olesen and Jake Knapp<\/a> teed off in the final group, to get to 17 under. Fellow Japanese player Takumi Kanaya<\/a> (65) also was 17 under with Knapp (67) and Sam Stevens<\/a> (66).<\/p>\n Olesen followed the hole-in-one with a bogey on No. 9. On the back nine, he birdied Nos. 13-14, three-putted the 15th for bogey, birdied the short par-4 16th and parred the final two. The eight-time European tour winner is chasing first PGA Tour title.<\/p>\n “It’s obviously different and it’s a big opportunity,” Olesen said. “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.”<\/p>\n Bhatia, the 23-year-old California player with two PGA Tour victories, chipped in from 42 feet for birdie on the fifth and from 55 feet for another birdie on 11.<\/p>\n “I’m just trying to play solid golf and hopefully the cards fall my way tomorrow,” Bhatia said.<\/p>\n Kitayama matched the tournament mark set by Adam Svensson<\/a> in the first round. Paul Goydos<\/a> also has a share of the course record, shooting 60 in the 2017 3M Championship on the PGA Tour Champions.<\/p>\n Kitayama had 12 birdies and a bogey. He played the front nine in 7-under 28.<\/p>\n “I was just kind of going out there,” Kitayama said. “I don’t think you really have a number going out into any round, just kind of take what you can get.”<\/p>\n Knapp dropped a stroke on the 17th for his lone bogey of the week<\/p>\n