BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Taylor Pendrith shot a 7-under 64 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Matt NeSmith into the weekend in the 3M Open. Playing in windier afternoon conditions, Pendrith made a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th and tapped in for another birdie on the par-5 18th.
He had a 12-under 130 total at the TPC Twin Cities, playing the first 36 holes without a bogey. The 33-year-old Canadian from Richmond Hill, Ont., won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May in Texas for his first PGA Tour title.
He tied for fifth last week in the Barracuda Championship in California. Seeking his first PGA Tour victory, NeSmith lost in a playoff two weeks ago at the ISCO Championship in Kentucky, his lone top-10 finish in 20 prior starts this season. He has missed 11 cuts.
The event is the second-to-last tournament before the FedEx Cup playoffs begin, with some players near the 70-player cutoff failing to advance to the weekend. Nick Dunlap (64th in the standings), Luke List (71st) and defending champion Lee Hodges (73rd) missed the cut. Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton, Ont.
, Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont.
, are all tied for 18th at 6 under. “Today was pretty tricky with the wind, it was blowing pretty hard at times, so my speed was great all day and stayed really patient," Pendrith said. “I didn’t really have many good looks through the first hour .
.. and was able to stay patient and make a couple, made a couple longer ones, which was nice.
”.