Taylor Pendrith battles the wind, shoots 64 for a 2-over lead at the 3M Open
BLAINE, Minn. — Taylor Pendrith shot a 7-under 64 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Matt NeSmith over the weekend at the 3M Open.
Playing in breezy afternoon conditions, Pendrith made a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th and chipped in for another birdie on the par-5 18th. He had a total of 12-under 130 at TPC Twin Cities, playing the holes first 36 without a bogey.
The 33-year-old Canadian won the CJ Byron Nelson Cup in May in Texas for his first PGA Tour title. He tied for fifth last week at the Barracuda Championship in California.
NeSmith had a 64 in the morning before high winds of 20 mph hit the course in the afternoon and evening.
Seeking his first PGA Tour victory, NeSmith lost in the final two weeks ago at the ISCO Championship in Kentucky, his only top 10 in 20 starts this season. He missed 11 shots.
First round leader Jacob Bridgeman had a 70 to drop three strokes back at 9 under with Andrew Putnam (66). Doug Ghim (64), Lanto Griffin (66), Alex Smalley (65) and Jhonattan Vegas (66) were 8 under.
The event is the second-to-last tournament before the FedEx Cup playoffs begin, and some players near the 70-player cutoff failed to advance over the weekend. Nick Dunlap (64), Luke List (71) and defending champion Lee Hodges (73) missed the cut.
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