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Aug 5, 2019 1:39 am

Poston claims first PGA title; FedEx playoffs set

J.T. Poston said he didn’t allow any pressure to win for the first time on the PGA Tour derail him.

It showed. Playing about a 90-minute drive from his hometown of Hickory, N.C., Poston completed his fourth consecutive bogey-free round Sunday to win the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., by one stroke over fellow Tar Heel State native Webb Simpson.

Poston carded an 8-under 62 on Sunday at Sedgefield Country Club to finish at 22-under 258 for the tournament, collecting his first win in his 77th career start. The 26-year-old became the first player in 45 years to win a stroke-play event without a bogey.

“I’ve always dreamt that I could win out here and I felt like I kind of proved that,” Poston said. “Gave myself some chances over the years. But to be able to do it here in North Carolina with a lot of friends and family, I don’t think I could have drawn it up any better.”

Simpson, the 2011 champion here, shot 65 to finish 21 under and in second place for the second year in a row.

“He’s a young player,” Simpson said of Poston. “Such a nice kid, so happy for him.”

The last time a player won a 72-hole PGA Tour stroke-play event without a bogey was Lee Trevino in 1974 in New Orleans.

“The putter was definitely the biggest part I would say down the stretch,” Poston said. “Made some good par putts, and that one on 18 definitely had some nerves behind it. It was awesome.”

Third-round leader Byeong Hun An of South Korea closed with a 67 to finish in third place at 20 under. He bogeyed the par-4 18th, missing a chance to force a playoff.

An had carded his first bogey of the tournament on the par-5 15th when he took a penalty stroke after a wayward tee shot. He responded with a birdie on the next hole.

Poston won two individual state championships for Hickory High School. He played collegiately for Western Carolina, twice winning Southern Conference individual titles.

Poston began the final round tied for fifth place. His move up the leaderboard was followed by a strong turnout of Western Carolina cap-wearing fans.

“I’ve got so many friends and family that are here coming in from all over the place,” he said. “Some came in (Saturday) night, some came in (Sunday) morning. The celebration’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Simpson, a former Wake Forest golfer who’s from Raleigh and now lives in Charlotte, bogeyed two of the first three holes. He putted in from off the green for a birdie on No. 7, and later recorded birdies on four of the last five holes.

“I want to win here again so badly, but we’re on a golf course which I love,” Simpson said. “But every day there’s going to be low numbers. … If you’re off a little bit, somebody is going to pass you.”

Viktor Hovland, a rookie out of Oklahoma State, shot 65, putting him in solo fourth place at 19 under.

“I feel like I got a lot better over the last month and a half,” said Hovland, who was Poston’s playing partner in the final round.

South Korea’s Si Woo Kim, the 2016 Wyndham champion, shot 64 to finish fifth at 17 under.

England’s Paul Casey got within two shots going to the back nine. His next shot landed in a fairway bunker and it took a couple of attempts to get out, leading to a double bogey on the hole. His 69 dropped him to a tie for 13th.

Patrick Reed, the 2013 champion here, shot 63 on Sunday for his best round of the tournament. He finished at 13 under, tied for 22nd place.

The Wyndham Championship was the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, moved up a few weeks from the past.

Patton Kizzire (67) and Andrew Landry (68) finished tied for 13th and 19th, respectively, with both moving inside the top 125 to advance to the FedEx Cup playoffs.

“It’s a big relief off my shoulders,” Landry said.

Kizzire and Landry displaced Robert Streb, who missed the cut, and Alex Noren, who tied for 60th place, from the top 125.

Pat Perez missed the cut but ended up 125th for the final spot in the playoffs.

–Field Level Media

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