Three strokes ahead entering the day at TPC Deere Run, Poston closed with a 2-under 69 for a three-stroke margin over fellow British Open qualifiers Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Emiliano Grillo.
“It is hard,” Poston said. “Wire-to-wire, having the lead for so long that it’s just 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 opened with rounds of 62, 65 and 67.
Bezuidenhout shot a 66, and Grillo had a 69.
“I just knew I needed a solid week,” Grillo said. “I just needed to play well and go up the rankings and have a job for next year. That was more important for me than going to the Open. Now I get both, so that’s pretty special.”
Christopher Gotterup, the former Rutgers player in the field on a sponsor exemption, had a 66 to tie for fourth at 17 under with Scott Stallings (70).
“Just more validation that I do belong out here,” Gotterup said. “And honestly, I didn’t have my greatest stuff this week. Hit it amazing, but just putted pretty poorly until coming down the stretch.”
Poston birdied 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 was really. I think there were a lot of nerves, a lot more than the first few days. I was just battling through them. I think after today, after this week, I feel like knowing I can play with those nerves and I can still win, still shoot a solid score considering the pressure and trying to win out here.”
The 29-year-old player from Hickory, North Carolina, won a week after tying for second in Connecticut in the Travelers Championship. He also won the 2019 Wyndham Championship.
The British Open is July 14-17 at the Old Course at St. Andrews.
“I can’t wait,” Poston said. “I’ve always wanted to play in one of those at any venue, but first one to be in St. Andrews and the 150th, I can’t wait to get there and see what it’s like.”
5:23 p.m. | TROPHY PRESENTATION BEGINS
Poston is set to accept his trophy any minute now. Click/tap here to watch the video.
5:05 p.m. | POSTON WINS THE JOHN DEERE CLASSIC
Poston latches onto his three-stroke lead and wins at -21.
4:45 p.m. | POSTON TAKES 3-STROKE LEAD
4:27 p.m. | BEZUIDENHOUT FINISHES TOURNAMENT WITH -18
The South African player Christiaan Bezuidenhout finished 66 for Round Four of the tournament.
4:20 p.m. | LEADERBOARD UPDATE
1: J.T. Poston, -20
2: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, -18
T3: Christopher Gotterup, -17
T3: Emiliano Grillo
T3: Scott Stallings
6: Denny McCarthy, -16
3:50 p.m. | GOTTERUP FINISHES TOURNAMENT WITH -17
Chris Gotterup posts a bogey-free 66 on Sunday to finish the tournament at -17. He's currently T2.
3:32 p.m. | LEADERBOARD UPDATE
1: J.T. Poston, -20
2: Emiliano Grillo, -18
3: Callum Tarren, -17
T4: Chris Gotterup, -16
T4: Christiaan Bezuidenhout
T4: Bo Hoag
T4: Scott Stallings
2:50 p.m. | THE BACK 9 BEGINS
Poston leads by two strokes over Grillo.
2:02 p.m. | LEADERBOARD UPDATE
1: J.T. Poston, -21
2: Emiliano Grillo, -18
T3: Michael Gligic, -16
T3: Callum Tarren
T3: Bo Hoag
T3: Denny McCarthy
1:27 p.m. | POSTON TAKES 5-SHOT LEAD
The athlete now leads at -22.
1:17 p.m. | CURRENT LEADERS
J.T. Poston teed off shortly ago, and he's staying in the lead with -21. Here's a look at who's behind him:
T2: Emiliano Grillo, -17
T2: Scott Stallings
4: Callum Tarren, -16
T5: Patrick Flavin, -15
T5: Michael Gilgic
T5: Denny McCarthy
11:08 a.m. | LEADERS SET TO TEE OFF SOON
J.T. Poston is in the lead right now with -19, he'll be teeing off at 12:40 p.m. Here's a look at the runner-ups:
T2: Scott Stallings, -16
T2: Emiliano Grillo
T2: Denny McCarthy
5: Callum Tarren, -15
10:19 a.m. | STREELMAN'S ACE AT NO. 12
The athlete makes a hole-in-one at No. 12, a 189-yeard par 3 at the John Deere Classic.
9:57 a.m. | COULD THESE PLAYERS GET THEIR FIRST PGA TOUR TITLE?
8:44 a.m. | COULD POSTON BECOME THE 3RD WIRE-TO-WIRE WINNER?
PGA TOUR says the athlete would be the second one on the PGA TOUR this season.
7:00 a.m. | FINAL ROUND BEGINS!
Who will drive home a winner? Sunday marks the last day of the John Deere Classic.
Here's a look at the pairings:
