BLAINE, Minn. (August 9, 2013) — History was made this year at the 3M Championship when Jeff Sluman shot a record low score of 28 on the front nine on Sunday. He made birdie on eight out of the first nine holes. He finished his round at 62, which was just one stroke off the lowest score ever recorded at the tournament. Just after he stepped off the 18th green Sluman reflected on his amazing round. “We’re out here to compete, and we’re out here to try and win, so there’ll be one happy guy, and probably 80 guys that wish they would’ve played a little better at the end of the week.” Sluman added, “I played well, and if somebody beats me, or a half a dozen guys beat me, I’ll shake their hand and say ‘maybe I’ll get you in a couple weeks in Endicott.'”
Sluman started Sunday well off the lead, but bolted to the top of the leader board. He was stalked all day by Corey Pavin and Tom Pernice Jr. Pavin made a clutch putt on 18 to tie Sluman at 16 under par. However, it was ultimately Pernice who came to the 18th and needed just a birdie to win. “Luckily, it just turned out beautiful,” says Pernice, “and I was fortunate enough to be able to two-putt from nine feet.”
Pernice won for just the second time since joining the Champions Tour in 2009. He plans to be back in Blaine to defend his title next summer. Pernice joined many other players in commenting about the great atmosphere created by the fans at the 3M Championship: “What Hollis has done and what 3M has done here over the past couple years– they’ve built quite a reputation as one of the greatest events on the Champions tour.
