Auburn golfer Brendan Valdes earns top 20 finish at 3M Open

Auburn Alum Makes PGA Waves with Top-20 Finish at 3M Open

Young Golfer Shows Potential, Surpassing Veteran Players in Impressive Performance

Brendan Valdes, the former Auburn star golfer and a member of the 2024 National Championship team, made waves at last weekend's 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities. The 22-year-old achieved his best professional result to date with a remarkable 15-under par performance, securing a coveted top-20 finish.

Rising Star Outshines PGA Veterans

Valdes's performance surpassed several seasoned PGA Tour members, including Ricky Fowler, Max Homa, and even the tournament champion Jhonattan Vegas. This impressive feat marks his second consecutive cut made in just his two career PGA Tour events.

Back Nine Blitz Ignites Tournament Run

The Orlando, Florida native captured attention with a stunning back nine performance on Thursday during his first round. He birdied seven of his final nine holes, finishing bogey-free with an impressive 64. This remarkable start placed him atop the leaderboard after day one. While Friday saw him struggle to maintain that momentum, ending even par, he still held firm at a respectable 7-under par heading into the weekend.

Weekend Magic propels Valdes towards Top 10

Valdes rediscovered his form over the weekend, carding a 3-under par 68 on "Moving Day" before closing out the tournament with a spectacular 5-under par 66 on Sunday. His 15-under par total placed him just three strokes shy of the top 10 and eight strokes behind the eventual champion Kurt Kitayama, who finished at an impressive 23-under par.

Future Success Beckons for Former Auburn Star

With his early success in the PGA Tour, Valdes has clearly demonstrated the potential to compete for tournament victories soon. He will likely have to wait until August when the FedEx Cup Playoffs begin to attempt a top-10 finish.