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SPORTS Monday 15 July 2019

Frittelli wins John Deere Classic for 1st PGA Tour victory

By LUKE MEREDITH of at least 7 feet, including
AP Sports Writer 26- and 46-footers.
SILVIS, Ill. (AP) — While the “If you would have told
rest of the leaders faltered, me at the start of the day,
Dylan Frittelli surged to his ‘We’ll give you 66,’ I’d have
first PGA Tour title. said, ‘That’s pretty good.’
Frittelli won the John Deere So to get five better than
Classic on Sunday, closing that is really awesome,”
with a 7-under 64 for a two- Henley said.
stroke victory over Russell But Henley, who finished
Henley. The South African well before Fritteli hit the
earned a spot next week in turn, could only watch from
the British Open, finishing at the clubhouse as Frittelli sur-
21-under 263 after the bo- passed him and everyone
gey-free final round at TPC else in the field.
Deere Run. Frittelli, who opened with
One of eight players within rounds of 66, 68 and 65,
two strokes of the lead en- started the final round with
tering the lead, Frittelli was three straight birdies. He
looking forward to the tour- matched Henley with a
nament’s charter flight to chip-in on No. 10 and took
Royal Portrush. the lead for good with a 20-
“I’m sure it’s going to be a foot birdie putt on the 11th
fun flight,” Frittelli said. hole. Landry birdied No. 14
A two-time winner on the to pull within two shots. But Dylan Frittelli holds the trophy after winning the John Deere Classic golf tournament, Sunday, July
European Tour, Frittelli bird- Landry went with his putter 14, 2019, at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
ied the par-5 17th after 30 feet from the pin while Associated Press
blasting out of a green- off the green on the par-
side bunker to 11 feet, and 4 15th hole, and left his try
closed with a par on the short on his way to his third
par-4 18th. bogey of the day.
Frittelli had tied for 46th in Moments later, Frittelli got
each of his last two starts. out of a bunker by using the
“I don’t want to say it was green’s downward slope to
easy out there. It just felt a his advantage, where he
whole lot easier than it has made a birdie putt that ef-
been the last few weeks,” fectively ended the drama
Frittelli said. “I calmed my in the Quad Cities.
nerves down.” “You can’t give up shots to
Henley shot a tournament- the rest of the field,” Frittelli
best 61. Andrew Landry, said.
who opened Sunday in a “When I saw the leader-
two-way tie for the lead, board, putting downhill, I
was 18 under after a 69. thought, if I make this (I’ll
Rookie Collin Morikawa get) a little bit of breath-
(66), the runner-up last ing room with Russell in the
week in Minnesota, and clubhouse already.”
Chris Stroud (67) followed Frittelli, who made the win-
at 17 under. Morikawa hit ning putt for the University
all 18 greens in regulation. of Texas in the 2012 NCAA
Henley’s career-low effort Tournament, became the
included six birdies on the second player from that
back nine, capped by one Longhorns team to win at
on No. 18 — the same hole TPC Deere Run. Jordan
he double-bogeyed Fri- Spieth won in 2013 and
day. Henley made six putts 2015.q