Three strokes ahead entering the day at TPC Deere Run, Poston closed with a 2-under 69 for a 3-under lead over fellow Open qualifiers Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Emiliano Grillo. “It’s tough,” 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 66 and Grillo 69. “I just knew I needed a solid week,” Grillo said. “I just had to play well and get ranked and have a job for next year. That was more important to me than going to the Open. Now I’m getting both, so that’s pretty special.” Christopher Gotterup, the former Rutgers player in the sponsor-exempt field, had a 66 to tie for fourth at 17 under with Scott Stallings (70). “Just confirm that I belong out here,” Gotterup said. “And honestly, I haven’t been at my best this week. I hit great, but I just putted really bad going into the stretch.” Poston birdied the first three holes, bogeyed Nos. 5 and 6 and birdied the next 10. He made a four-footer for birdie at the par-5 17th and birdied 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 through it. I think after today, after this week, I like knowing that I can play with those nerves and I can still win , still shooting a solid score considering 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’m looking forward to it,” Poston said. “I’ve always wanted to play in one of those at any venue, but first to be in St. Andrews and 150th, I can’t wait to get there and see what it’s like.”
