It didn’t take long for rookie Jackson Koivun to prove that he’s comfortable on the PGA Tour.
Koivun shot 5-under-par 66 to stave off hard-charging Scottie Scheffler and win on the PGA Tour for the first time at the 3M Open on Sunday at Blaine, Minn.
Koivun, 21, finished at 25-under 259 for a three-shot victory on Scheffler, who closed with a 63 at TPC Twin Cities.
“Definitely had some nerves coming down on 18,” Koivun said. “All throughout the crowd I kept hearing, ‘Scottie’s coming, Scottie’s coming.’ I just tried to tone that out and keep playing the golf I knew I could.”
Less than two months ago, Koivun was helping Auburn to its second NCAA championship in a three-year stretch. He demonstrated more poise while playing the final two rounds of his third tournament since turning pro without carding a bogey.
“I just love this game. I love golf, it’s everything I do,” Koivun said. “I have a tough time getting away from it. Like I said, it’s been love at first sight.”
Denny McCarthy (66), Brian Harman (65), Chandler Phillips (67) and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (64) tied for third place at 20 under.
World No. 1 Scheffler birdied three consecutive holes to begin the back nine as part of his bogey-free round. He birdied Nos. 16 and 18, leaving him trailing by two strokes.
Koivun then birdied No. 16, extending the margin to three strokes with two holes to play.
“Depending on how Jackson played, I knew I was going to need a really low number regardless,” Scheffler said. “I wanted to get something really low on the front nine and kind of put myself on the leaderboard. I didn’t quite have that.”
Scheffler, who was competing in the 3M Open for the first time, still hasn’t see Koivun hit a shot.
“I’m looking forward to that,” Scheffler said.
Koivun, a three-time Player of the Year in the Southeastern Conference, surged into the lead across the final nine holes Saturday and then went right to work Sunday, with his approach shot on the first hole spinning back to within 2 feet of the cup for an easy birdie putt. A birdie on No. 4 pushed his lead to five strokes, with Scheffler among five golfers tied for second place at the time.
He ended up with birdies on the first two par-5 layouts Sunday – and didn’t need it on No. 18.
Jake Knapp shot an early 62 to rise quickly on the leaderboard and finish at 16 under, tying for 13th. He posted seven consecutive birdies as part of a 28 on the back nine, tying a tournament record set a day earlier by Koivun.
“On the back nine, just like drove it a little bit better and I wedged it really well,” Knapp said. “That was the main thing and that was kind of the main focus coming into these last few weeks.”
Defending champion Kurt Kitayama (68) finished tied for 24th at 13 under.
–Field Level Media
