Poston leads Deere by three
SILVIS, Ill. — J.T. Poston made up for two back-nine bogeys with an eagle on the par-5 17th, shooting a 4-under 67 on Saturday to take a threestroke lead into the final round of the John Deere Classic.
Trying to complete a wire-to-wire victory after tying for second last week in the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, Poston made a 13½-foot eagle putt on 17.
He had a 19-under 194 total at TPC Deere Run.
Playing partner Denny McCarthy birdied the final two holes for a 66 to join Scott Stallings (64) and Emiliano Grillo (65) at 16 under.
Poston opened with rounds of 62 and 65 to take a four-stroke lead, then played the front nine in 3 under Saturday with birdies on Nos. 2, 5 and 8. He dropped a stroke on the par-3 12th, birdied the par-4 14th and bogeyed the par-4 15th before making the big putt on 17.
From Hickory, N.C., the 29-year-old Poston won the 2019 Wyndham Championship for his lone PGA Tour title.
Stalling birdied Nos. 15-17.
Grillo birdied four of the last five.
Iowa native Zach Johnson, the 2012 winner, was 8 under after a 67 in his 20th consecutive start in the event. He also eagled 17.
Grace captures LIV’s U.S. debut
Branden Grace won LIV Golf ’s first stop on American soil in Portland, Ore. The South African closed with a 7-under 65 to finish at 13 under in the 54-hole tournament and won $4 million.
Also, Paul Casey, the Englishman ranked No. 26 in the world, will make his LIV debut this month at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.
Meronk ahead by 1 at Irish Open
Adrian Meronk will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Irish Open as he bids to become the first Polish winner in the history of the European tour.
Meronk carded a third round of 4-under 68 at Mount Juliet.