Justin Thomas didn’t get his first PGA Tour victory this weekend, but he came close again.
The 22-year-old Louisville/Goshen native, who is in his rookie season on the Tour, tied for fifth place at the John Deere Classic, which concluded Sunday in Silvis, Ill. It was the sixth Top 10 (and second top five) finish of the season for the former St. Xavier High School star and University of Alabama standout, who held the 36-hole lead in the tournament, then lost it in Saturday’s third round before his rally in Sunday’s final-round fell short.
Thomas carded a collective 18-under-par 266 at TPC Deere Run to finish two shots off the lead. Thomas’ friend, Jordan Spieth, beat Tom Gillis on the second playoff hole for his fourth victory of the season and his second in three years in the Deere Classic.
Spieth, the Masters and U.S. Open champion, shot a sizzling 10-under 61 in Saturday’s third round to take the lead over from Thomas, who had a one-stroke lead after shooting 12-under in the first two rounds of the tourney.
Thomas shot a 2-under-par 69 Saturday. His 34-35 round included three birdies and one bogey. He parred the first four holes before birdieing two of the next four (Nos. 5 and 8), but he closed the front nine with a bogey on the par-4 ninth. Thomas then parred the first seven holes of the back nine before birdieing the par-5 17th. He finished with a par, leaving him in a three-way tie for third and three shots behind Spieth.
Thomas shot a 4-under 67 in Sunday’s final round. His 34-33 round featured five birdies and a bogey. He played the first eight holes in even-par, birdieing the par-5 second and bogeying the par-3 seventh, before closing the front nine with a birdie on No. 9. Thomas then parred the first five holes of the back nine before heating up. He birdied the next three holes - Nos. 15-17 - before ending with a par on the 18th.
With his finish Thomas, who had the longest drive of the tournament (361 yards in Sunday’s final round) and led the field in strokes gained tee to green (13.755), has now earned $1,605,297 in 24 events this season.
Photo courtesy John Deere Classic Facebook Page
