2022 John Deere Classic leaderboard: J.T. Poston holds lead in Round 3, but challengers close gap

Poston shot 67 on Saturday and is 19 under after 54 holes, but his lead was trimmed to three strokes entering the final round

The leader after the first and second rounds, J.T. Poston will once again hold the overnight edge at the 2022 John Deere Classic. Seeing his 36-hole margin shrink from four strokes to three, the one-time PGA Tour winner will have his work cut out for him Sunday as he searches for his first victory since the 2019 Wyndham Championship.

Beginning his day in ideal fashion, Poston carded three birdies against six pars on his opening nine and was in cruise control. It was only then that the 29-year-old began to run into a bit of trouble with bogeys on the par-3 12th and the par-4 15th. Seeing his once four-stroke lead shrink to one, he arrived at the par-5 17th in need of a spark.

Poston received exactly that when he carded an eagle to extend his lead to three where it stands heading into the final round. Sitting at 19 under, Poston's closest pursuers are Denny McCarthy, Scott Stallings and Emiliano Grillo at 16 under. While Stallings and Grillo have won on the PGA Tour, it may be McCarthy who will be Poston's greatest threat as the University of Virginia product has consistently made appearances on leaderboards over the last month, including a couple weeks ago at the U.S. Open.

The leader

1. J.T. Poston (-19): Parlaying last week's success into this week, Poston has simply been terrific through 54 holes at the John Deere Classic. Leading the field in strokes gained tee to green, he ranks 10th in strokes gained off the tee, fourth in strokes gained approach and third in strokes gained around the green. With zero flaws in the current state of his game, Poston will be a difficult man for the field to catch on Sunday.

"It feels good," Poston said after his 4-under 67. "Obviously the first two days I had everything working great. Hitting it great off the tee, irons, and making a lot of putts. And today wasn't as sharp tee to green and didn't putt it as well. To be able to still shoot 4-under, which is still very solid today, that gives me some confidence going into tomorrow. Hopefully hit it better, but if I don't, I still got the ability to shoot a decent number."

Other contenders

T2. Denny McCarthy, Emiliano Grillo and Scott Stallings (-16)

5. Callum Tarren (-15)

T6. Bo Hoag and Chris Naegel (-14) 

T8. Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Matthias Schwab (-13)

There have already been discussions of McCarthy, so let's shift the conversation to Stallings. Despite some major inconsistencies in his game, whenever the 37-year-old plays the weekend, he tends to position himself into contention. This week is no different as he has a realistic opportunity to notch his first victory on the PGA Tour since the 2014 Farmers Insurance Open. Stallings arrived at TPC Deere Run having finished inside the top 10 at the Travelers Championship and having been right in the mix till the very end at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

"I have no idea what tomorrow holds," Stallings said. "I know that I have some things that I can control and kind of manage expectations, understand, but I showed up here Tuesday morning and told my caddie, if we're here for anything other than to have a chance to win on Sunday then we don't need to be here. You know, that was kind of my mindset going in. I've played a ton of golf going into this week, and obviously had a great Sunday last week to kind of build some momentum going in here. Look forward to the opportunity."

Bo Hoag makes the most of Moving Day

We are officially in the latter stages of the 2021-22 season and Hoag is on the outside looking in when it comes to the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Beginning the week 231st in the season long race, Hoag's last made cut on the PGA Tour came more than three months ago at the Corales Puntacana Championship. With a scorching 8-under 63 on Saturday, Hoag is in a tie for seventh at the John Deere Classic and is now projected to jump inside the top 200 of the FedEx Cup Standings.

"You're nine back and I don't think the leaders are coming back, so you got to go put a good number up and try to get in the mix for Sunday," Hoag said. "I've got nothing to lose. I haven't been playing that well coming in here, and just trying to, yeah, shoot a couple good rounds and prove to myself I can play well for a week…It's been a little tough. I haven't had the results the last few months, but I still believe I'm a good player and I know what I'm capable of, so just kind of believing in that."

2022 John Deere Classic updated odds and picks

• J.T. Poston: 1/1
• Denny McCarthy: 5-1
• Scott Stallings: 11/2
• Emiliano Grillo: 7-1
• Callum Tarren: 16-1
• Chris Naegel: 40-1
• Christiaan Bezuidenhout: 40-1
• Matthias Schwab: 50-1
• Bo Hoag: 50-1
• Maverick McNealy: 65-1
• Cam Davis: 65-1

There is nothing to suggest Poston can't close this out Sunday and 1/1 is rather generous according to my numbers. It is not the sexiest bet, but it may be the correct one as he possesses a three-stroke lead and all the confidence in the world. If searching for a wager with a touch more juice, McCarthy at 5-1 would be my selection as he closed strong at both the Memorial Tournament and U.S. Open and is very much trending towards his first win on the PGA Tour.

Rick Gehman is joined by Mark Immelman to discuss Paul Casey's move to LIV Golf and Saturday's action at the John Deere Classic. Follow & listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.  

[Jul 2, 2022 at 5:37 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

A big bird for Poston comes at a big moment

Seeing his lead get trimmed to one, J.T. Poston added an eagle on the par-5 17th to get to 19 under on the tournament and 4 under for the day. Beginning the round with a four-stroke lead, he now holds a three-stroke lead as he finds himself in the middle of the 18th fairway.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 5:14 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Stallings turns in 6-under 65 to vault into contention

Last a winner in 2014, Scott Stallings will be well positioned to win on the PGA Tour tomorrow. Now 16 under and only one stroke behind J.T. Poston who is on the tee on the par-5 17th, Stallings made the most of his Moving Day.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 4:50 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Poston birdies 14th to regain two-stroke edge

A birdie by Scott Stallings on the 17th saw Poston's lead shrink to one stroke. However, as he has done all week, Poston remained steady and made a birdie of his own on the drivable par-4 14th to get to 18 under and two clear of Stallings who is in trouble on 18.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 4:21 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Poston drops a shot, lead trimmed to two

A three-putt on the par-3 13th has dropped J.T. Poston to 17 under. While many were positioned at 14 under, a birdie from Scott Stallings on the 16th has shrunk the lead to only two.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 4:00 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Poston in cruise control

Action has come to a bit of a lull as Poston continues to make pars in bunches. That is all he needs as no one seems to make birdies at this moment. His lead remains at four as he takes to the back nine.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 3:35 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Bo Hoag comes in with an 8-under 63

Beginning the day nine strokes off J.T. Poston's 36-hole lead, Hoag made the most of his third round. Carding seven birdies and an eagle, he signed for an 8-under 63 and currently sits in a tie for second only four strokes behind Poston as he nears the turn.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 3:10 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Poston's lead remains three

After trading a few pars with his playing competitor Denny McCarthy, J.T. Poston's lead is still three strokes as he stands at 17 under. Bo Hoag, Callum Tarren and Matthias Schwab are those at 14 under.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 2:46 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Chasers piling up behind Poston

Denny McCarthy, C.T. Pan, Matthias Schwab and Callum Tarren are all within shouting distance of J.T. Poston. Overnight, there was only one player within four strokes of his lead, as of this moment, there are nine.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 2:19 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

McCarthy gets within three

After making birdie on two of his first three holes, Denny McCarthy has climbed to 13 under. J.T. Poston meanwhile has added a birdie of his own to get to 16 under and three ahead of his playing competitor.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 2:00 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Poston and McCarthy have begun their third rounds

Another week on the PGA Tour and another large 36-hole lead. Poston will have his work cut out for him given the conditions and setup which are both conducive for birdies. Meanwhile, I love the chasing position for McCarthy who has been peppering leaderboards for the past two months.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 1:30 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

NCAA Player of the Year hoping to make a major splash

Recently turning professional, Chris Gotterup is at 10 under and only five strokes behind J.T. Poston. The reigning NCAA Player of the Year out of Oklahoma received a sponsors exemption into the John Deere Classic and is taking full advantage of it. I am getting some Matthew Wolff 2019 vibes and to make the stakes even higher, the winner this week will receive a spot in the 150th Open Championship in two weeks.

[Jul 2, 2022 at 1:00 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

McNealy will need his irons to cooperate

Six strokes behind J.T. Poston, Maverick McNealy is securely in the mix for his first win on the PGA Tour. Despite this, the Stanford product will need to get some help from his irons as it has been mostly putting in his rounds of 70-63. He currently ranks second in strokes gained off the tee and ninth in strokes gained putting as well as 47th in strokes gained approach and 64th in strokes gained around the green.