ESPN Golf: Rookie Koivun Cards 61 at 3M Open, Rewrites Back-Nine Record to Lead by Three

PGA Tour rookie Jackson Koivun delivered one of the rounds of the year on Saturday, shooting a 61 to reach 20-under par and open a three-stroke lead at the 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota. His back-nine score of 28 shattered the tournament record at TPC Twin Cities.

A Back Nine for the Ages

Koivun eagled two of the course's three par-5s, draining a 12-foot putt on No. 12 and a 14-footer on No. 18 to cap a round featuring two Eagles and six Birdies. The performance came on a hot, calm afternoon—ideal conditions that Koivun exploited to the fullest.

Chasing Pack Includes World No. 1

Emiliano Grillo and Ben Kohles sit three back at 17-under after matching 65s. More notably, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finds himself six strokes behind in a four-way tie for ninth alongside Davis Thompson, Séamus Power, and Brian Harman.

The Rookie's Story

The 21-year-old former Auburn standout was the top-ranked amateur in the world before turning professional just last month following the U.S. Open. His scores of 64-68-61 reflect a player who steadily found his rhythm before exploding on Moving Day.

Strokeslab's Take

A back-nine 28 almost certainly signals elite numbers across SG: Approach and SG: Putting simultaneously—the hallmark of a complete performance rather than a putter-hot fluke. Sunday will reveal whether Koivun's ball-striking can hold up under leaderboard pressure.