Kitayama cooks, one off lead in hot 3M Open
But Kurt Kitayama was the star on Saturday. He matched the tournament and course record with a 60, finishing before Olesen and Jake Knapp teed off in the final group, to get to 17 under. Japan's Takumi Kanaya (65) is also 17 under with Knapp (67) and Sam Stevens (66).
Olesen, the 35-year-old Dane who led after the second round, used a six iron on the 209-yard eighth at the TPC Twin Cities.
"Obviously, took the slope perfectly, a big bonus to see it go in," he said.
"It's been a long time since I've had one."
Olesen followed the hole-in-one with a bogey on the ninth. He birdied 13 and 14, bogeyed 15, birdied the 16th and parred the final two holes. The eight-time European tour winner is chasing first PGA Tour title.
"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," Olesen added.
"Obviously, the wins on the DP World Tour, but Ryder Cups, also."
Bhatia, the 23-year-old Californian with two PGA Tour victories, had a 63 to post first at 18-under 195.
"I chipped in twice, made a lot of putts," he said.
"All in all, just a pretty solid round ... I didn't hit it particularly great off the tee, but thankfully greens are soft enough to where you can kind of do that.
"I'm just trying to play solid golf and hopefully the cards fall my way tomorrow."
The only Australian left in the field is Adam Scott, after four compatriots missed the weekend cut.
The former world No.1 and 2013 Masters champion shot a 66 to be tied for 25th at 11 under.
Kitayama matched the tournament mark set by Adam Svensson in the first round. Paul Goydos also has a share of the course record, shooting 60 in 2017.
The current world No. 97 had 12 birdies and a bogey on 'Moving Day', dropping his only stroke of the week on the 17th.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
20 hours ago
- Perth Now
Kitayama cooks, one off lead in hot 3M Open
Thorbjorn Olesen has aced the par-3 eighth and shot a four-under 67 for a share of the 3M Open third-round lead with Akshay Bhatia. But Kurt Kitayama was the star on Saturday. He matched the tournament and course record with a 60, finishing before Olesen and Jake Knapp teed off in the final group, to get to 17 under. Japan's Takumi Kanaya (65) is also 17 under with Knapp (67) and Sam Stevens (66). Olesen, the 35-year-old Dane who led after the second round, used a six iron on the 209-yard eighth at the TPC Twin Cities. "Obviously, took the slope perfectly, a big bonus to see it go in," he said. "It's been a long time since I've had one." Olesen followed the hole-in-one with a bogey on the ninth. He birdied 13 and 14, bogeyed 15, birdied the 16th and parred the final two holes. The eight-time European tour winner is chasing first PGA Tour title. "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," Olesen added. "Obviously, the wins on the DP World Tour, but Ryder Cups, also." Bhatia, the 23-year-old Californian with two PGA Tour victories, had a 63 to post first at 18-under 195. "I chipped in twice, made a lot of putts," he said. "All in all, just a pretty solid round ... I didn't hit it particularly great off the tee, but thankfully greens are soft enough to where you can kind of do that. "I'm just trying to play solid golf and hopefully the cards fall my way tomorrow." The only Australian left in the field is Adam Scott, after four compatriots missed the weekend cut. The former world No.1 and 2013 Masters champion shot a 66 to be tied for 25th at 11 under. Kitayama matched the tournament mark set by Adam Svensson in the first round. Paul Goydos also has a share of the course record, shooting 60 in 2017. The current world No. 97 had 12 birdies and a bogey on 'Moving Day', dropping his only stroke of the week on the 17th.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Davidson makes magic moments but Woad stays in control
Australia's Karis Davidson shot a stunning 66, including eight birdies in 10 mid-round holes, to briefly surge into contention at the Women's Scottish Open before falling back in the closing stages. The Gold Coast 27-year-old carded a third round that was one shot better than leader Lottie Woad but still found herself 10 shots adrift, in a tie for ninth place. She is joined by compatriot Cassie Porter, who shot a 69 that also left her seven under on the leaderboard at Troon on Saturday. Woad had four birdies in a six-hole stretch around the turn and posted a 5-under 67 to maintain her two-shot lead as she closes in on victory in her professional debut. Woad has such control of her game at Dundonald Links that she went 33 consecutive holes without a bogey until dropping a shot on the 15th. Her lead was down to one shot, but the 21-year-old from England responded with a short wedge she played perfectly on the 17th, leaving her an 8-foot birdie putt she converted. A closing par put her at 17-under 199. Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who caught Woad early with an eagle on the par-5 third hole, fell behind after Woad's birdie streak. But the Dane rallied with three straight birdies and a couple of par saves for a 67. She was two shots behind, along with Sei Young Kim (66), who made a long eagle putt on the 14th and got up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 closing hole to get within two shots. Nelly Korda played bogey-free, but the American managed only two birdies on another relatively calm day by Scottish standards. Her 70 left her five shots behind Woad, who already has had a golden summer in Europe. Woad, who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur in 2024 and rose to No.1 in the women's amateur ranking that year, won the Irish Women's Open three weeks ago on the Ladies European Tour. Then she missed the play-off by one shot in the Evian Championship. But her tie for third in the LPGA major earned her a tour card, and she decided to skip her senior year at Florida State and turn pro. And now she has a chance to win in her debut. "That's the aim, to shoot as low as possible and keep giving myself chances," Woad said. "If someone shoots lights out, fair enough. I'm excited for the opportunity. I've got the experience and I'll try to use that." Another Australian, Minjee Lee, who was joint third after the first round, improved from Friday's travails with a 70 but is downfield in joint 27th on four over.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
It's a long shot. But Sydney FC should be applauded for having a crack at Thomas Müller
Domestically, the Australian football economy continues to shrink. Club distributions are down from over $3 million per season to an all-time low of $530,000, and so most clubs don't even bother trying to sign big names. It's beyond them, and there is little appetite from club owners to dig their hands even further into their pockets. And when they do, they have to settle for the likes of Douglas Costa, who had already had his run through MLS by the time he washed up at the Sky Blues last season, but has proved to be a worthy signing, or Juan Mata, who was many years past his peak when Western Sydney Wanderers had the chance to grab him - as evidenced by his on-field output. Mata might yet return next season, but if he does, he'll be a luxury add-on for the Wanderers, rather than a key starting player. A-League clubs have largely pivoted towards bringing through academy players - and so they should. They've finally learned how to turn young, homegrown talent into sizeable transfer fees, and flipping kids for cash is the only way they can be sustainable in the long term. It's good for the game, too. It's a shift that is already benefiting the Socceroos and, in turn, will reinforce the A-League's legitimacy as a breeding ground and relevance for the many fans in Australia who follow European football but not the local product. The more that A-League alumni players can reach the top levels, the more it says to the unconverted that our competition is worth keeping a close eye on. But that can't be all that the A-League is, or will be. For one thing, those youngsters need to have hardened pros next to them in the dressing room to learn from. If the A-League was too reliant on experienced players in the past, it now runs the risk of going too far the other way. A careful balance has to be struck. Star power has always been the thing that moves the needle in this country, but it's never been more true than today. As mass culture continues to splinter into a million micro-niches, the need to have something - or someone - with cut-through power is critical. Müller is that sort of someone. And for every player who opts for the megabucks, there might be one per cent of them who are happy to forego those earnings for the glorious Australian lifestyle, of which the appeal to foreigners we sometimes underestimate because we're so lucky to experience it 24/7. Del Piero, don't forget, turned down more money elsewhere - and even a contract offer from Liverpool - because he was so attracted by the wonders of Sydney. Loading To ask the question of Müller is to send a message to the rest of the football world - and to sceptical local fans - that the A-League still has ambition. There's no risk in trying. In fact, the risk is not trying, and never knowing if he might have been the next Del Piero. At worst, you get a polite rejection. At best, you spark the sort of rare moment that can reignite interest in the domestic game, especially at a time when eyeballs are hard to win.
