Vegas takes 3rd-round lead in 3M Open

BLAINE, Minn. — Jhonattan Vegas birdied six of the final eight holes for an 8-under 63 and a one-stroke lead over Matt Kuchar on Saturday in the 3M Open.

Vegas had a 16-under 197 total at the TPC Twin Cities. The 39-year-old Venezuelan has three PGA Tour victories, the last a successful title defense in the 2017 Canadian Open.

“Just kind of makes you feel like you’re doing the right thing and you’ve just got to keep working hard,” Vegas said.

The 46-year-old Kuchar also shot 63, chipping in for eagle from 30 yards on the par-5 18th for probably the largest crowd roar of the tournament. He won the last of his nine PGA Tour titles at the 2019 Sony Open.

“You can really let your focus go, let all the focus that you’re carrying on, you can kind of just let that go and know that you’re done for the day and you can kind of enjoy the moment a little more than if you’ve got three or four holes left to go,” he said.

Maverick McNealy, with another 63, was two strokes behind. Patrick Fishburn, with yet another 63, was four back at 12 under with Sahith Theegala (66). Theegala won the Fortinet Championship last year for his first tour victory.

“A lot of low scores out there,” Theegala said. “I don’t know how, still feels hard walking off the 18th green, there’s so much water, so many stressful shots. Just hats off to the guys for shooting 64s and 63s, especially on the top of the board.”

Four shots back to start the day, Vegas birdied Nos. 5 and 6 and added three more two-birdie bursts on the back nine — on Nos. 11-12, 14-15 and 17-18. He made a 5-footer on the par-3 17th and tapped in on 18.

Vegas has dominated on the back nine through three rounds. He is even par on the front nine, but 16-under on Nos. 10-18.

“I’ve just been getting lucky on the back nine and hitting some good shots and making some great putts,” Vegas said. “You have to hit your irons really well on the back nine here, which I’ve been able to do for the past three days,” he said.

Kuchar missed the cuts in nine of his first 11 events this year and 11 of 18 overall, with his best finish a tie for 17th at the Charles Schwab Challenge two months ago.

On Saturday, he three-putted for double bogey on the par-3 fourth, then birdied the next four holes. He tapped in for birdie on the 167-yard 17th after a near ace.

“In the air I had a good feeling it was going to be good, not quite as good as it turned out,” Kuchar said. “I think it’s always a bonus on a tough hole when you get to walk up and tap a birdie in without even having to think about your second shot.”

Cam Davis (65), Adam Svensson (66) and Matt NeSmith (70) were five shots back at 11 under.

Second-round leader Taylor Pendrith had a double bogey and four bogeys in a 73 that left him six shots back.