First-month pros set pace at 3M Open

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. Sunday’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-par 62 Saturday to share the lead with Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau at 15-under 198 after three rounds of the inaugural 3M Open.

Morikawa shot a 7-under 64 and DeChambeau a 1-under 70 at TPC Twin Cities.

Seeking his first tour win in 31 tour starts, Wyndham Clark (64) was tied with Adam Hadwin (69) one shot back. Bonanza product Scott Piercy (69) was in a group of six at three back.

Wolff, 20, who won the NCAA title on Memorial Day, is playing in his third event since turning professional, Morikawa, 22, his fourth. They’re the final pairing Sunday.

“It’s on a lot bigger stage, but our games played very well throughout the spring,” said Morikawa, named the Pac-12 Men’s Golfer of the Year in May. “We’re going to have to control our nerves, remember who we are, what brought us out here.”

A bomber off the tee, Wolff is averaging 306.5 yards through three rounds with his herky-jerky swing. However, he 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.

■ LPGA: At Oneida, Wis., a late slip cost top-ranked Sung Hyun Park control of the Thornberry Creek Classic, and she slipped into a fourway tie for the lead entering the final round.

Park made double bogey on the par-5 15th and missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole, ending up at 3-under 69 and tied with Shanshan Feng (65), Tiffany Joh (66) and Ariya Jutanugarn (67) at 20-under 196.

■ European PGA: At Lahinch, Ireland, Robert Rock narrowly missed a 30-foot eagle putt that would have given him the second round of 59 in tour history.

The Englishman settled for a birdie, a 10-under 60 and a 13-under 197 total for a one-shot lead over countryman Eddie Pepperell (66) and Rafa Cabrera Bello (63) of Spain.