Kohles Fires 62 to Lead 3M Open; Scheffler Three Back After First Round

Ben Kohles seized control of the 3M Open by carding a 9-under 62 in Thursday’s opening round at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. His eagle on the par-5 finishing hole gave him a two-shot advantage heading into Friday’s action, marking a career-best performance for the 36-year-old journeyman competing across the PGA and Korn Ferry tours.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler posted a 5-under 65 in his debut at the event, positioning himself three strokes behind Kohles. Scheffler, fresh off a fourth-place finish at the British Open, struggled early but recovered by birdieing five of eight holes after the turn, crediting improved fairway accuracy for his late-round surge.

Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivun and Gary Woodland each opened with 64s. Koivun, a 21-year-old who turned professional in June after setting an Auburn school record with 11 wins, posted the lowest score of his brief 43-round career. Koivun executed a bogey-free round with seven birdies distributed across both nines.

Kohles’ breakthrough round featured nine consecutive holes from No. 6 where he alternated birdies, plus another birdie at No. 15. Three weeks prior, he came agonizingly close to his first tour victory at the John Deere Classic before a final-hole double bogey resulted in third place.

Defending champion Kurt Kitayama shot 68. Tournament history suggests low scoring will persist, with the event’s seven previous winners averaging 19-under par at TPC Twin Cities.