JT Poston races to win John Deere Classic, grabs impressive place in Open Championship
SILVIS, disease – JT Poston completed a wire-to-wire win Sunday at the John Deere Classic for his second PGA Tour title and a spot in the Open Championship.
Three strokes before entering the day at TPC Deere Run, Poston finished 2 under 69 for a 3-stroke lead over his Open Qualifier peers Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Emiliano Grillo.
Poston is the third wire-to-wire winner in tournament history, after Scott Hoch in 1980 and David Frost in 1992. The 29-year-old from Hickory, North Carolina, finished 21st under 263. He opened the score 62-65-67.
“It’s hard to play with the lead,” Poston said. “Just a little bit of pressure. Wire-to-wire, pretty much the lead from Thursday onwards, I told all the media after each round that I was just trying to stick to the plan. my game plan and I wasn’t going to think about it.
“The truth is it’s hard not to think about the finish line and what comes with it, all that comes with achieving it. [a] win here. If you try to put that aside and not think about it, it’s hard to do. “
Poston birdie on the first three holes on Sunday, beat the 5s and 6s, and split the next 10. He made a four-legged birdie on par-5 on the 17th and leveled at 18.
“I was just trying to breathe,” Poston said. “I really did. I could still win, still score a solid score considering the pressure and try to win here.”
Poston won a week after taking second place in Connecticut in the Travelers Championship. He also won the 2019 Wyndham Championship.
“They didn’t come here easily, and I really want to get that second win to confirm Wyndham,” Poston said. “So it feels good to get it out of the way.”
Opening takes place July 14-17 at the Old Course in St. Andrews in Scotland.
“I can’t wait,” Poston said. “I’ve always wanted to play at one of those locations at any location, but the first time was in St. Andrews and the 150th time, I can’t wait to go there and see what it’s like.”
Bezuidenhout shot 66, and Grillo got 69.
“I just knew I needed a solid week,” Grillo said. “I just need to play well, get promoted and have a job for next year. That’s more important to me than going to The Open. I’ve got both now, so that’s pretty special.”
Christopher Gotterup, a former Rutgers player in the sponsor-exempt field, had 66 to draw fourth at 17 with Scott Stallings (70).
“Just more confirmation that I belong here,” Gotterup said. “And to be honest, I haven’t had my best this week. Let’s hit it great, but just underperform until the interval drops.”
