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Lee Hodges takes one-stroke lead at 3M Open

Jun 23, 2023; Cromwell, Connecticut, USA; Lee Hodges plays his shot on the 15th hole during the second round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Lee Hodges, after missing the cut in three of his last four events, leads the 3M Open after the first round with a bogey-free, 8-under-par 63 on Thursday in Blaine, Minn.

Hodges, 28, is seeking his first win on the PGA Tour since joining full-time in 2022.

He started on the back nine at TPC Twin Cities with three straight birdies en route to a 4-under 32, then added birdies at Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 7 for eight total.

A four-way tie for second at 7-under 64 features Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, Brandt Snedeker, Tyler Duncan and Kevin Streelman.

Matsuyama also went bogey-free with seven birdies. Snedeker and Duncan also steered clear of bogeys. Streelman bogeyed No. 10 and carded an eagle in closing at the par-5 18th hole.

Defending champion Tony Finau is in a large group tied for eighth at 5-under 66. Finau began on the back nine and went birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, par, birdie to get to 6 under in five holes. The eagle on the par-5, 583-yard 12th hole came on a 49-foot putt.

But Finau bogeyed the par-4 second and seventh holes before making a birdie on No. 8 to get back to 5 under.

–Field Level Media

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