Werenski grabs Minnesota lead
blaine (minnesota) — Richy Werenski, in search of his first PGA Tour victory, birdied the final hole to grab a one-shot lead after the first round of the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota, on Thursday while Tony Finau was two shots off the pace.
Werenski, who has one top10 finish in 12 PGA Tour starts this season, carded an eightunder-par 63 at TPC Twin Cities to sit one shot clear of fellow American Michael Thompson.
“I just played solid golf. The tee ball wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be, but found some fairways and took advantage with my irons,” said Werenski, who hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation. “My irons were really good.”
Werenski capped his round in style at the par-five 18th where he reached the green in three and then sunk a 21-inch putt for a closing birdie.
Defending champion Matthew Wolff and Finau and were among a group of six golfers two shots off the pace.
Finau, who finished eighth at the Memorial Tournament last week, started his day on the back nine and reached the turn at two under before warming up with five birdies over an eighthole stretch that included a bogey at the par-four seventh.
“I got into a good rhythm out there,” said Finau, who hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation.
“The golf course is definitely gettable if you hit it in the fairway. The greens are just the right moisture where they’re not going to spin a lot or bounce over, so you’re kind of just hitting your number and the ball’s staying around that position.”—