PGA Tour newcomer Jackson Koivun looked like he was all business but it came with an incredibly fun third round in the 3M Open on Saturday.
Koivun fired a 10-under-par 61 on the way to taking the lead at Blaine, Minn.
"It felt great," Koivun said. "It's what you work for. I definitely felt some nerves."
Koivun, in his just third tournament as a professional, moved to 20-under 193 and holds a three-shot lead on Ben Kohles and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo going to Sunday's final round at TPC Twin Cities.
Koivun, who announced last month that he would forgo his senior collegiate season at Auburn to turn pro, finished on a tear with two eagles on the backside that allowed him to play the final 10 holes in 9-under. That contributed to a tournament-record 28 on the backside, rolling in a 14-foot eagle putt on the last hole.
"I got a good break on (No. 9) and kind of hit the ground running with that," Koivun said.
Koivun was dialled in from the fairway on the final hole, with his approach shot on the mark to set up his final eagle.
"I had a pretty good number (into the green)," Koivun said.
Koivun's bogey-free round included an eagle 3 on No. 12.
Grillo and Kohles also were without bogeys on the way to posting 65s. Grillo eagled No. 18 shortly after Koivun accomplished that. Kohles, the first-round leader, had three birdies on both sides.
"That was my highlight of the day there on 18," Grillo said. "I hit it well, playing from the fairway like I wanted to out here and then gave myself a lot of opportunities, couldn't take advantage of them."
Koivun said he knows there's a huge test ahead as he aims for his first professional victory.
"I'm sure some of the pins will be tucked and we've got a lot of great players behind me, but just going to stick to my game plan and try to smile," Koivun said.
Michael Brennan (63) and Chandler Phillips (66) are tied for fourth place at 16 under.
"Played some really solid golf and it feels good," Brennan said. "Just hope to keep it going tomorrow."
Michael Kim, fresh off Friday's 59, was unable to maintain the momentum, shooting 70 and joining Denny McCarthy (64) and Billy Horschel (65) at 15 under.
"I was pleasantly surprised at how calm I was feeling heading to the first tee," Kim said. "Overall, I'm pretty happy with it, but a little disappointed that I'm five back after today."
Kim had only one birdie until No. 16 on Saturday.
"(Friday) was obviously fantastic, but in the big picture, I still want to win this tournament," Kim said.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had his best round of the tournament with 64 to move to 14 under, holding a share of first place when he left the final green. Competing in the tournament for the first time, he posted an 8 under score on the backside, highlighted by an eagle with a chip from the greenside rough on the par-4 16th.
"I just tried to do my best to stay in it," Scheffler said.
Davis Thompson and Ireland's Seamus Power were early finishers with 63s, also among those at 14 under before other golfers got rolling. Brian Harman (66) is at 14 under as well.
Defending champion Kurt Kitayama shot 66 to move to 10 under. — Reuters
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