Californians both seek first victory
Wolff, Morikawa share 3M Open lead with DeChambeau
BLAINE, Minn. — Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa grew up about 30 minutes apart in California and golfed against each other in high school. That was only a few years ago.
Today’s competition could result in a much bigger reward.
The first-month professionals are in prime positions for one to get his first career win at a first-time event.
Wolff shot a 9-under 62 Saturday to share the lead with Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau at 15 under after three rounds of the inaugural 3M Open.
Morikawa shot a 7-under 64 at the TPC Twin Cities; DeChambeau a 1-under 70.
Seeking his first tour win in 31 tour starts, Wyndham Clark shot a 64 and was tied with Adam Hadwin (69) one shot back.
Wolff, 20, who won the NCAA individual title on Memorial Day, is playing in his third event since turning professional, Morikawa, 22, his fourth. They’re the final pairing today.
Wolff, who made his professional debut two weeks ago by finishing 80th at the Travelers Championship and missed the cut at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic, added stellar approach shots to help him record six straight birdies on Nos. 5-10. None of the putts were longer than 8 feet. Birdies at No. 13 and 15 made a round of 59 seem possible.
However, Wolff missed a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 16 and a tee shot into a bunker led to bogey on the par-3 17th. He scrambled for birdie on No. 18 after an errant tee shot.
Calling his round “pretty much stress-free,” Morikawa birdied five of his first seven holes, but only three the rest of the way.
Playing in ideal weather conditions — temperatures in the low-80s, increasing clouds and no wind — 65 of the 85 players shot under par on the par-71 layout.
DeChambeau barely did.
After his sixth career win and first since the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in November, he opened the day with a two-shot lead but birdied only the first and last holes to go with one bogey.
“I just didn’t make a couple putts that were necessary to give myself that three-, four-shot lead like I should have today,” he said.
LPGA TOUR: In Oneida, Wis., a late slip cost Sung Hyun Park control and she slipped into a four-way tie for the lead going into the final round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
Park, who returned to No. 1 in the world after winning last week in Arkansas, made double bogey on the par-5 15th at the Thornberry Creek of Oneida course on Saturday.
She missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole and remained tied for the lead with Shanshan Feng (65), Tiffany Joh (66), and Ariya Jutanugarn (67). They were at 20-under 196.
EUROPEAN TOUR: In Lahinch, Ireland, Robert Rock narrowly missed a 30-foot putt for eagle that would have given him the second round of 59 in European Tour history.
The Englishman settled for a birdie, a 10-under 60 and first place at 13 under overall after the third round of the Irish Open.
Rock made 11 birdies, including six straight to close his round. His putt for eagle at the last was from just off the green, and it slid left of the cup .
Rafa Cabrera-Bello (63) will join Rock in the last group, one shot off the lead along with Eddie Pepperell (66).