Test
May 1, 2024
BLAINE, Minn. – Despite missing the cut at last week’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, 28-year-old Lee Hodges has played his last 37 holes without a bogey, and as a result, increased his lead Friday after the second round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities.
Hodges followed up his opening-round 63 with a 7-under 64 late Friday just before darkness set in, taking a four-stroke advantage over Tyler Duncan to Saturday’s third round for the first 36-hole lead of his career.
“Same thing as yesterday. I've got a great attitude out there. Me and my caddie, we're 70-something on the points list, like what do we have to lose, you know?” Hodges said following his round Friday. “We've committed to every shot we've hit so far, which has been great. We'll continue to do it because what do we have to lose?
“I've been playing some really good golf. Me and my whole team have been saying we're not that far off. It's nice to have made some birdies this week.”
Hodges recorded three birdies during his front nine Friday to turn in 11-under for the championship, and would convert four birdie chances over his last six holes to lead at 15-under 127.
Duncan, winner of the RSM Classic in 2019, carded three birdies during his front nine to begin his second round, but could muster just one more birdie during his final nine holes, posting a 4-under 67 to take sole possession of second place at 11-under 131.
Kevin Streelman, J.T. Poston, defending champion Tony Finau and 2012 FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker will begin Saturday’s third round five shots back in a share of third at 132.
Frankie Capan III leads Minnesotans in the field for a second consecutive day, shooting a 3-under 68 for a second consecutive round, making the cut for the first time in his three PGA Tour starts.
Capan played his opening nine in even par Friday, carding three birdies that were nullified by three bogeys.
Finding his footing during his final nine holes, Capan rolled in his birdie look from five feet at the 10th to move to 4-under before sinking his fourth birdie of the round from 50 feet at the par-3 13th.
Wedging his approach to nine feet at the 16th, Capan rolled in the final birdie of his round to shoot a second-round 68 to sit tied for 22nd at 6-under 136.
Tom Hoge, winner of back-to-back Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championships in 2009 and 2010, carded a bogey-free 69 Friday to sit 10 shots off the lead in a tie for 33rd.
The Fargo, N.D., native, whose lone PGA Tour victory came at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2022, carded nine straight pars to open his second round, before rolling in a birdie chance at the 10th.
He would get to 5-under when his birdie chance from inside of 22 feet found the bottom of the cup at the par-4 16th.
Former University of Minnesota golfer at 2012 MGA Amateur champion Erik van Rooyen carded a second-round 71 Friday to miss the cut by one stroke, shooting 3-under 139.
Derek Hitchner, a two-time MGA Player of the Year and 2021 MGA Amateur champion, carded a final-round 71 Friday, helped by sinking his birdie chance from 23 feet at the last to finish at 2-over 144.
“It was an awesome week and a dream come true to be here,” said Hitchner, who will miss the weekend cut in his PGA Tour debut this week. “I wish I could’ve played a little better, but unforgettable to be here.
“It’s been an interesting transition playing [PGA Tour Canada] for the last couple of weeks. I’ve really enjoyed it, but it’s been a fairly big adjustment going from amateur golf to being on the road a lot more and trying to play for a living. I’ve already grown a decent bit during my journey so far, and I’m excited for where it takes me."
Earning PGA Tour Canada status by finishing 14th in the PGA Tour University standings, following his collegiate career at Pepperdine University, Hitchner also earned an exemption into Second Stage at PGA Tour Q School.
In four events this season, Hitchner has made three cuts and notched a sixth-place finish at the Quebec Open two weeks ago.
Recent Minnesota State Open and MGA Amateur Championship winner Caleb VanArragon rebounded from an opening-round 76 Thursday by carding a 1-under 70 Friday, missing the cut by seven strokes during his PGA Tour debut.
Former Gopher Alex Gaugert carded an even par 71 Friday to finish at 6-over 148, while Augsburg University head coach Eric Rolland tallied a 36-hole score of 9-over 151.
The second round of the 2023 3M Open is scheduled to resume at 8:15 a.m. Saturday at TPC Twin Cities., followed by the start of the third round.
THE 5TH 3M OPEN
TPC TWIN CITIES
BLAINE, MINN.
7,431 YARDS, PAR 71
FRIDAY’S SECOND ROUND RESULTS
1. Lee Hodges, United States, 63-64—127
2. Tyler Duncan, United States, 64-67—131
T3. Kevin Streelman, United States, 64-68—132
T3. J.T. Poston, United States, 66-66—132
T3. Tony Finau, United States, 66-66—132
T3. Brandt Snedeker, United States, 64-68—132
T7. Emiliano Grillo, Argentina, 65-68—133
T7. David Lipsky, United States, 69-64—133
T7. Billy Horschel, United States, 66-67—133
T10. J.J. Spaun, United States, 66-68—134
T10. Hideki Matsuyama, Japan, 64-70—134
T10. Keith Mitchell, United States, 68-66—134
T10. Callum Tarren, England, 66-68—134
T22. FRANKIE CAPAN III, NORTH OAKS, MINN., 68-68—136
T33. TOM HOGE, FARGO, N.D., 68-69—137
MC. ERIK VANROOYEN, UNIV. OF MINN., 68-71—139
MC. DEREK HITCHNER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., 73-71—144
T133. THOMAS LEHMAN, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., +3 (thru 17 holes)
MC. CALEB VANARRAGON, BLAINE, MINN., 76-70—146
MC. ALEX GAUGERT, UNIV. OF MINN., 77-71—148
MC. ERIC ROLLAND, AUGSBURG UNIV., 73-78—151
For complete tournament results go to: www.pgatour.com/tournaments/2023/3m-open/R2023525/leaderboard
May 1, 2024
April 29, 2024
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