SILVIS, Ill. – Former Stetson Hatter Sam Ryder, who is competing in his first season on the PGA Tour, hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation during his final round at the John Deere Classic on Sunday, finishing at 19 under for the tournament.
 
Ryder finished his day tied for 2nd at 18 under. Michael Kim is won the event with a dominating 27 under par score. Ryder tied for second with Francesco Molinari, Joel Dahmen and Bronson Burgoon.
 
For the weekend, Ryder posted scores of 66-66-67-66 to finish at 265 on the par 71 course at the TPC Deere Run course. He was one of just four players in the field to post four rounds in the 60s during the tournament.
 
The tie for second was his second top five of the year, joining with a fifth-place finish at the Houston Open in April when he finished four shots behind tournament winner Ian Poulter and just one behind the former World No. 1 player, and defending Open Championship winner, Jordan Spieth, who is currently sixth in the world rankings.
 
Ryder's performance moved him up to 202^nd in the world rankings and 115^th in the 2018 FedEx Cup standings. The top 125 players at the end of the PGA Tour season move to a four-tournament playoff to determine the tour champion for the year.
 
After a drive to the right side of the fairway on the 454-yard par-4 fourth hole, Ryder had a 140-yard approach shot, setting himself up for the birdie. This moved Ryder to 1 under for the round.
 
Ryder hit his tee shot at the green on the 226-yard par-3 seventh, setting himself up for a long 31-foot birdie putt, which he converted. This moved Ryder to 2 under for the round.
 
At the 503-yard par-4 ninth, Ryder's tee shot went 290 yards to the left side of the fairway, his second shot went 200 yards to the right greenside bunker, and his sand shot went 17 yards to the green where he had a two-putt for a bogey. This moved Ryder to 1 under for the round.
 
After a drive to the left side of the fairway on the 596-yard par-5 10th hole, Ryder hit an approach shot from 102 yards to 4 feet, setting himself up for the birdie on the hole. This moved Ryder to 2 under for the round.
 
On the par-par-4 11th, Ryder's 143-yard approach to 8 feet set himself up for the birdie on the hole. This moved Ryder to 3 under for the round.
 
After a drive to the right side of the fairway on the 484-yard par-4 15th hole, Ryder had a 153-yard approach shot, setting himself up for the birdie. This moved Ryder to 4 under for the round.
 
Ryder will be back in action this weekend at the Barbasol Championship at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Ky. That is the first of six events remaining on the 2018 schedule in which players have a chance to qualify for the FedEx Cup Championship run, which will conclude at the Tour Championship the weekend of September 20-23 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
 
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