Jackson Koivun, a 21-year-old rookie and former college golf sensation, took the lead at the 3M Open after an exceptional third round on July 25, 2026. He carded a bogey-free 10-under-par 61, highlighted by a record-setting back nine of 28, which included two eagles on the par-5 12th and 18th holes. This stellar performance propelled Koivun three shots ahead of the field, placing him at 20-under par entering the final round.

Koivun’s breakthrough came after a slow start to his round, as he began four shots behind the previous leader Michael Kim, who had made headlines on Friday with a rare sub-60 round of 59. After a critical birdie on the challenging ninth hole sparked momentum, Koivun surged, finishing his final nine holes 8-under. His dominant charge transformed the leaderboard, turning him from a pursuer into the front-runner with a commanding lead.

This tournament marks one of Koivun’s earliest opportunities as a fully exempt PGA Tour member, having only recently earned his status through the PGA Tour University Accelerated program. Despite missing the cut in his professional debut at the John Deere Classic earlier in July, he quickly rose to prominence with a top-10 finish at the ISCO Championship and a tie for 23rd at the U.S. Open, showcasing his ability to compete at the highest level across major events.

Before turning professional, Koivun had an illustrious collegiate career at Auburn University, becoming the first player ever to twice win all three major college golf awards: the Jack Nicklaus Award, the Ben Hogan Award, and the Fred Haskins Award. As the 3M Open approaches its final round, Koivun holds a solid lead, with challengers Ben Kohles, Emiliano Grillo, and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler trailing behind. His performance so far signals the potential for a breakthrough victory early in his career.