Thompson and Werenski Share Second Round Lead at 3M Open

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BLAINE, Minn. (July 24, 2020) – Under windier, firmer playing conditions, scores after Friday’s second round at the 3M Open were slightly higher, with the scoring average less than half-a-stroke under par (70.577), Michael Thompson followed his first round 64 with a 66 to catch first-round leader Richy Werenski and share the 36-hole lead at 12-under par 130.

Werenski, who leads the field in strokes gained putting (6.923), used the short stick to save par a couple of times during his round of 67, 4-under par and four shots worse than his opening round of 63. The 28-year-old from Springfield, Mass., is seeking his first win in his 99th start on the PGA Tour. Thompson, 35, of Tucson, Ariz., who is chasing his second PGA Tour title after winning the 2013 Honda Classic, said the TPC layout was playing tougher and noted the greens were rolling firmer and “a little bit faster” than the opening round.

“The big thing is just try not to overpower the golf course, stay within myself, make good, comfortable swings, aggressive swings to good targets, be aggressive to pins when I can, when I have good numbers, and then if I'm kind of in between, then I kind of play away from the hole a little bit,” he said.

Lurking one shot back of the leaders is Tony Finau and Taylor Gooch tied for third at 131, 11-under par. Finau finished 8th last week at Muirfield Village after leading or sharing the lead through 36 holes. Finau played a 4-iron, 3-iron to the 594-yard par-5 12th hole, ranked the easiest over the tournament’s first two days, where he two-putted for a birdie.

“I played the hole the way I should, I feel like, when it's that much downwind. It's a 600-yard hole, but I know if I hit two good irons, I should be able to get it on that green or at least around it. That's all I was trying to do. Hit two perfect shots right to the middle of that green,” he said.

Last year’s defending champ Matthew Wolff didn’t birdie a single par 5, yet added a 3-under 68 to his first-round 65 and is tied for 6th place, three shots back of the leaders. Wolff, who is just 21, credits the “good vibes” he has on the golf course to the memory of playing “really good” shots last year.

Surviving the cut at 2-under-par 140 where 68 professionals out of a field of 155. Among those missing the weekend were several local favorites including the lone amateur in the field, University of Minnesota senior Angus Flanagan, who carded 73-73—146, four-over par, and fellow Golden Gophers Tom Lehman and Erik Van Rooyen. Former two-time MGA Amateur champion Tom Hoge, 31, of Fargo, N.D., finished comfortably inside the cut at 136, 6-under par and tied for 17th.

The purse is $6.6 million with $1,188,000 going to the winner.

Notable scores from the second round July 24 at the TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minn.
T1. Michael Thompson, 64-66—130 (-12)
T1. Richy Werenski, 63-67—130 (-12)
T3. Tony Finau, 65-66—131 (-11)
T3. Taylor Gooch, 66-65—131 (-11)
T6. Matthew Wolff, 65-68—133 (-9)
T12. Ryan Moore, 65-70—135 (-7)
T17. Tom Hoge, 69-67—136 (-6)
MC – Missed Cut
Tom Lehman, 71-70—141 (-1)
Rich Beem, 71-70—141 (-1)
Tim Herron, 72-69—141 (-1)
Troy Merritt, 73-69—142 (E)
Erik Van Rooyen, 74-69—143 (+1)
Angus Flanagan, 73-73—146 (+4).

For complete scores, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html