Kitayama crowned at the 3M Open: Victory and rise in the ranking

Kurt Kitayama Crowned Champion of the 3M Open with a Brilliant Performance

Blaine, Minnesota – Kurt Kitayama capped off a spectacular weekend with a final round of 65 strokes, securing the victory at the 3M Open. Kitayama edged out Sam Stevens by one stroke, earning his second PGA Tour win. After tying the tournament record with an impressive round of 60 strokes on Saturday, Kitayama entered the final round one stroke behind the leaders. The American golfer demonstrated his skill by achieving birdies on six of the first eight holes, solidifying his lead on a hot afternoon at TPC Twin Cities.

“Starting like this helps you stay calm,” Kitayama commented. “In the final round, in the penultimate group, there are definitely nerves.”

Kurt Kitayama

Despite a bogey on the 17th hole, Kitayama remained calm and achieved a par on the final hole, finishing with a total of 23 under par, 261 strokes. His older brother, Daniel, was his caddie for the second time this season, providing him with invaluable support.

Kitayama highlighted the importance of having his family in the field, stating that it helped him stay calm and make good decisions. Matt Wallace, David Lipsky, Pierceson Coody, and Jake Knapp shared third place, three strokes behind the leader. This victory propelled Kitayama to climb positions in the FedEx Cup standings, securing his place in the playoffs and projecting him from 110th to 53rd place. Kitayama, who had already achieved a sixth place in last year’s 3M Open, has had a season with ups and downs, but this triumph will allow him to move up in the world ranking, going from 97th to 39th place. The 32-year-old player demonstrated excellent precision in his approach play, highlighting his ability to execute precise shots from difficult positions. Sam Stevens, for his part, had an outstanding performance with five birdies in the second half of the course, consolidating a promising season with three top-three finishes. Although he is still looking for his first victory, this result puts him in 29th place in the FedEx Cup.

“With Kurt playing 29 on the front nine, I felt like I could play freely and aggressively,” Stevens said. “I didn’t feel many nerves, which is good.”

Sam Stevens

Knapp, who was playing with Stevens, stayed in the competition until an unfortunate shot on the 18th hole led to a bogey. Akshay Bhatia and Thorbjorn Olesen, who were leading the tournament before the final day, had a disappointing finish. Bhatia finished in 25th place, while Olesen tied for 14th place. Jhonattan Vegas, the defending champion, had his best round of the tournament and finished in 44th place.