Jhonattan Vegas leads in 3rd round of 3M Open, seeking first win since 2017

Jhonattan Vegas took the lead in the 3M Open with a remarkable 8-under 63, birdieing six of the final eight holes. His total score of 16-under 197 put him one stroke ahead of Matt Kuchar at TPC Twin Cities. Vegas, a 39-year-old from Venezuela with three PGA Tour victories, expressed his satisfaction, saying it validates his hard work.
Kuchar, aged 46, also scored a 63, including an eagle chip from 30 yards on the 18th hole, eliciting the loudest cheer from the crowd. He has nine PGA Tour titles, the latest one in 2019 at the Sony Open. Kuchar explained that finishing strong allows him to savor the moment more than having holes left to play.
Maverick McNealy and Patrick Fishburn, both carding 63s, trailed Vegas by two and four strokes, respectively. Sahith Theegala, at 12 under, praised the low scores despite the challenging course conditions. Vegas, starting the day four shots behind, rallied with a series of birdies on the back nine.
Vegas credited his success to solid iron play and making crucial putts, especially on the back nine. Meanwhile, Kuchar’s season has seen more missed cuts than successes, making his current position a notable improvement. Despite a double bogey early on, Kuchar rallied with four consecutive birdies.
Behind the leaders, golfers like Cam Davis, Adam Svensson, and Matt NeSmith were five shots back at 11 under. Taylor Pendrith, the second-round leader, struggled with a score of 73, six shots behind Vegas. The competition is fierce with several players posting impressive scores.
Overall, both Vegas and Kuchar demonstrated strong performances during the third round of the 3M Open, setting the stage for an exciting final day of play.