The John Deere Classic had all the makings of Lucas Glover’s tournament to win through the first two rounds. Then the weekend at TPC Deere Run took a turn nobody really expected.
Under a brutal Illinois sun, Sunday turned into a back-nine mess for almost everyone who wasn’t named Chris Gotterup. The 27-year-old New Jersey native shot a clean 62 with nine birdies, finishing at 20-under par and waiting for the guys behind him to either catch up or crumble.
Ben Kohles — still looking for his first PGA Tour win — walked to the 18th tee tied for the lead. That’s when it got ugly.
Kohles yanked his second shot into the water. Just like that, Gotterup had his second win of the season and the third victory of his young career. The PGA Tour’s official account posted the trophy shot with a simple caption: “A familiar face in the winner’s circle.”
The moment it flipped
Gotterup’s round was borderline flawless. Nine birdies, no bogeys, a 62 that put pressure on everyone else. But he was already in the clubhouse when Kohles stepped up to 18. All Gotterup could do was watch from the scoring area as Kohles’ approach splashed down short and left of the green.
Kohles had played tough all week. He just couldn’t close it out. That’s the difference between being a guy who grinds for paychecks and a guy who finds a way to lift a trophy on Sunday. Right now, Gotterup is the latter.
The win moves him into a stronger position for the FedEx Cup playoffs and gives him some serious momentum heading into the summer stretch. For Kohles, it’s another close call that stings a little more because he had it right there in his hands.
Gotterup said after the round that he tried to stay patient and let the course come to him. It worked. The birdies came in bunches, and when Kohles misfired, there was nobody left to catch him.
That’s golf. You play 72 holes and sometimes the whole thing comes down to one swing on the 72nd. For Gotterup, it was just another Sunday. For Kohles, it was a long ride back to the parking lot.
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