Akshay Bhatia, Thorbjørn Olesen at top of crowded leaderboard at 3M Open

Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune on Jul 26, 2025

Published in Golf

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BLAINE, Minn. — More than four hours after Kurt Kitayama posted a record-tying 60, two-time PGA Tour winner Akshay Bhatia and Friday’s leader Thorbjørn Olesen together moved one shot ahead of him entering Sunday’s final round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine.

Kitayama finished more than four hours ahead of Friday’s leader, and was done before the day’s final pairing of Olesen and Jake Knapp teed off.

Bhatia’s 8-under-par 63 brought him from eight shots back after Friday’s second round, then put him alone in first place briefly before Olesen struck back, creating a two-man lead that will sleep on it overnight.

Bhatia had eight birdies and a bogey, a 63 that included two chip-ins and plenty of body English needed for more than one lip-in birdie made.

“I felt like I did a pretty good job playing out of the rough today,” Bhatia said. “I didn’t particularly hit it great off the tee, but thankfully the greens are soft enough to where you can kind of do that.”

Bhatia has won twice on the PGA Tour, the 2023 Barracuda Championship and the 2024 Valero Texas Open.

After he produced a Friday scorecard with as many bogeys as birdies, Kitayama went out early Saturday, birdied seven of his first nine holes and made only one bogey — and late in his round at that. Kitayama signed for the 11-under 60, tying a 3M Open record set by Adam Svensson during Thursday’s first round.

Kitayama is tied for third at 17 under with Sam Stevens, Takumi Kamaya and Knapp. Pierceson Coody, Chris Gotterup and Alex Noren are two strokes back at 16 under, and William Mouw and Jesper Svensson are tied for 10th at 15 under.