Test
May 1, 2024
BLAINE, Minn. – Carding four birdies on both his front and back nines Thursday, Lee Hodges fired a bogey-free 8-under 63 at TPC Twin Cities to take the first-round lead at the 2023 3M Open.
In his 65th career start during his sophomore season on the PGA Tour, Hodges will carry a one-stroke lead over 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, Brandt Snedeker, Tyler Duncan and Kevin Streelman to Friday’s second round.
“I thought me and my caddie did a really good job today of picking targets and picking the clubs that we wanted,” Hodges said following his round Thursday. “Really committed to every shot out there, hit a lot of really good ones.
“Just a great day today, I'll take it for what it is, and we'll get out there tomorrow and try to do it again.”
Starting on the 10th tee Thursday, Hodges carded three consecutive birdies to begin his round, adding a fourth birdie at the par-5 18th, rolling in his putt from four feet to turn in 4-under.
Back-to-back birdies to open his inward nine elevated the Alabama native to 6-under before back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh holes would put him into the clubhouse with an 8-under 63.
“I've been getting off to some poor starts, which I wish I knew why, I'd fix it if I knew,” said Hodges, who has made 15 cuts in 29 events this season, while notching a pair of top-10s.
Defending champion Tony Finau, whose win at the 3M Open spurred on two more victories during the 2022 season, starting by playing his front nine in 6-under through his first six holes, but slowed over his final 12. He finished with a 5-under 66.
Frankie Capan III, winner of the 2020 Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship at Edina Country Club, leads a contingent of Minnesotans in the field, opening the championship with a 3-under 68 Thursday.
“I’ve been playing some good golf coming into this week, and obviously, with this being a home PGA Tour event for me, I probably put too much pressure on myself,” Capan said. “I hit a lot of good shots and gave myself a bunch of opportunities.
“Pleased with the round—I think we can do a little better, but happy with 3-under after today.”
Starting on the 10th tee Thursday, Capan bouncing back from two early bogeys by sinking his birdie chance from 13 feet at the 15th to turn in 1-over for the day.
Back-to-back birdies to begin his back nine boosted Capan into red figures for the round, and he would tally back-to-back birdies once again at the fifth and sixth holes to finish the opening round of his third career PGA Tour start with a 3-under 68.
Asked how he’s battling the sweltering conditions this week at TPC Twin Cities, Capan replied, “Nothing crazy, just make sure you're eating and drinking plenty of fluids. Everyone is saying to stay cool. I was telling them we want to stay hot.”
Tom Hoge, the Fargo, N.D. native who won back-to-back MGA Amateur championships in 2009-2010, got off to a fast start by birdieing his opening hole, the par-4 10th. He would add six more birdies to offset 2 bogies and a double bogey at the shortish par-4 7th hole. Hoge and Capan sit with a large group of 23 golfers currently tied at 3-under par.
The 2022 Minnesota PGA Player of the Year and Augsburg University head coach, Eric Rolland, posted a 2-over 73 Thursday, currently sitting tied for 122nd, while 2021 MGA Amateur champion Derek Hitchner played his opening 15 holes in 4-over before play was suspended due to inclement weather.
Erik VanRooyen, a former University of Minnesota golfer and winner of the 2012 MGA Amateur Championship, played his first 16 holes in 2-under Thursday before play was stopped. He’ll resume his opening round tied for 46th.
Caleb VanArragon, who’s arguably had the best two weeks in the history of Minnesota golf following his dominant sweep at both the Minnesota State Open and MGA Amateur Championship carded a 5-over 76 during his PGA Tour debut.
“That was the most fun I’ve ever had shooting a 76,” VanArragon said. “It definitely wasn’t my best stuff, but I had so much fun. Over the first three holes I took two bad clubs off the tee and made two bad swings.
“There’s a lot to learn from today. I felt like a did a good job of handling the nerves—it’s the most people I’ve ever played in front of. If I want to keep playing this game at a high level going forward, I’m going to have to play on stages like this and even bigger.”
Thomas Lehman, son of Alexandria, Minn., native and 1996 British Open champion Tom Lehman, earned a sponsor’s exemption into the championship this week, also carding a 76 to sit tied for 148th with VanArragon.
Another former Gopher, Alex Gaugert, who doubles as VanRooyen’s caddie during the season, Monday qualified into the championship this week. He's currently tied for 151st at 6-over through his first 16 holes.
The second round of the 2023 3M Open is scheduled to get underway at 6:45 a.m. Friday at TPC Twin Cities.
THE 5TH 3M OPEN
TPC TWIN CITIES
BLAINE, MINN.
7,431 YARDS, PAR 71
THURSDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1. Lee Hodges, United States, 31-32—63
T2. Hideki Matsuyama, Japan, 32-32—64
T2. Brand Snedeker, United States, 31-33—64
T2. Tyler Duncan, United States, 31-33—64
T2. Kevin Streelman, United States, 31-33—64
T6. Justin Suh, United States, 33-32—65
T6. Nick Hardy, United States, 32-33—65
T6. Emiliano Grillo, Argentina, 32-33—65
T9. Billy Horschel, United States, 32-34—66
T9. Tony Finau, United States, 36-30—66
T9. Adam Svensson, Canada, 32-34—66
T9. Vincent Norrman, Sweden, 33-33—66
T9. Doc Redman, United States, 33-33—66
T9. Callum Tarren, England, 33-33—66
T9. Augusto Nunez, Argentina, 33-33—66
T9. J.J. Spaun, United States, 31-35—66
T9. J.T. Poston, United States, 32-34—66
T23. FRANKIE CAPAN III, NORTH OAKS, MINN., 31-37—68
T23. TOM HOGE, FARGO, N.D., 35-33--68
T46. ERIK VANROOYEN, UNIV. OF MINN., -2 (thru 16 holes)
T122. ERIC ROLLAND, AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY, 37-36—73
T143. DEREK HITCHNER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., +4 (thru 15 holes)
T148. CALEB VANARRAGON (A), BLAINE, MINN., 39-37—76
T148. THOMAS LEHMAN, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., 41-35—76
T151. ALEX GAUGERT, UNIV. OF MINN., +6 (thru 16 holes)
For complete tournament results go to: www.pgatour.com/leaderboard
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