SILVIS, Ill. — JT Poston cruised to victory Sunday in the John Deere Classic for his second PGA Tour title and a berth in the Open Championship.
Three strokes ahead entering the day at TPC Deere Run, Poston closed with a 2-under 69 for a 3-stroke lead over fellow Open qualifiers Christian Bezuidenhout and Emiliano Grillo.
“It’s tough,” Poston said. “A web connection leading for so long that it’s hard not to think about that fine line all week. I tried to stick to the game plan.”
Poston finished at 21-under 263. He started with rounds of 62, 65 and 67.
Bezuidenhout scored a 66 and Grillo had a 69.
“I just knew I needed a solid week,” Grillo said. “I just had to play well and get up in the rankings and have a job for next year. That was more important to me than going to the Open. Now I get both so it’s pretty special.”
Christopher Gutterup, the former Rutgers fielder on a sponsor’s exemption, had a 66 to tie for fourth at 17 under with Scott Stallings (70).
“Just more confirmation that I really do belong here,” Gotherup said. “And to be honest, I didn’t have my best stuff this week. He hit it great, but I just putted pretty bad until I got off the par.”
Poston bogeyed the first three holes, bogeyed Nos. 5 and 6 and parred the next 10. He made a 4-footer for birdie on the par-5 17th and parred the 18th.
“I was just trying to breathe,” Poston said. “I really was. I think there was a lot of nerves, a lot more than the first few days. I was just fighting them. I think after today, after this week, I want to know that I can play with those nerves and I can still win, still get a solid score, given the pressure and trying to win here.”
The 29-year-old from Hickory, North Carolina, won a week after tying for second in Connecticut at the Travelers Championship. He also won the 2019 Wyndham Championship.
The Open is July 14-17 at the Old Course in St. Andrews.
“I can’t wait,” Poston said. “I’ve always wanted to play in one of those, in any venue, but the first one, which is in St. Andrews and 150th, I can’t wait to go there and see what it’s like.”
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