Jackson Koivun fired a 10-under 61 and a record back-nine 28 to grab a three-shot 3M Open lead with Scottie Scheffler lurking.
Jackson Koivun didn’t politely introduce himself to the PGA TOUR on Saturday. He kicked down the door.
The 21-year-old rookie torched TPC Twin Cities with a 10-under 61, storming into the final round of the 3M Open with a three-shot lead and his first 54-hole advantage on TOUR. Koivun’s closing eagle from 233 yards completed a ridiculous back-nine 28 and turned Sunday into a full-blown chase.
“Obviously 61 is great,” Koivun said. “Just excited to be able to go out there and shoot my personal best.”
That might be understating it.
Koivun made two eagles on the back nine, nearly added another at the drivable par-4 16th and finished the round ranked first in Strokes Gained: Total.
He also led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and ranked seventh in putting, a combination that made him nearly impossible to catch.
The former Auburn star will begin Sunday three shots clear of Emiliano Grillo and Ben Kohles, who each posted third-round 65s. Chandler Phillips sits another shot back at 16-under alongside Michael Brennan, who climbed the leaderboard with an 8-under 63.
Then there’s Scottie Scheffler.
The world’s No. 1 player remains among a dozen golfers within six shots of the lead, meaning Koivun’s first Sunday in control won’t come with training wheels. Veterans, former winners and one of golf’s most dominant players are waiting for the slightest mistake.
Koivun doesn’t appear interested in backing up.
“Just got to keep the foot on the gas,” he said after watching his advantage briefly shrink during the round. “We’ve got a lot of great players behind me, but just going to stick to my game plan.”
His college résumé suggests the stage won’t overwhelm him. Koivun helped Auburn win its second national championship in three years and became the first golfer to win the Haskins, Hogan and Nicklaus player-of-the-year awards multiple times.
He earned PGA TOUR membership through the PGA TOUR University Accelerated program, then closed his amateur career with a tie for 23rd at the U.S. Open.
He’s already shown he can contend against professionals, finishing tied for fourth at the Procore Championship and tied for 10th at the ISCO Championship.
Now he has a chance to do something bigger.
Koivun entered the week trying to prove he belonged on TOUR. After 54 holes, that question has changed. Can anybody catch him?
