" O'Hair gets first win at John Deere Classic"

(From the Houston Chronicle)
Silvis, IL (Sports Network) - PGA Tour rookie Sean O'Hair fired a six-under 65 on Sunday to come from behind and win the John Deere Classic. O'Hair finished at 16-under-par 268 for his first career victory on the PGA Tour.

Robert Damron shot a 67 at the TPC at Deere Run to join Hank Kuehne in a tie for second place at 15-under-par 269. Last year's winner Mark Hensby posted a 64 to finish one shot further back alongside Wes Short and third-round leader J.L. Lewis.

O'Hair was five shots back to start the day and birdied two in a row from the second to move to 12-under. He parred his next four holes and added a birdie at the par-four eighth to make the turn at minus-13.

The 22-year-old picked up a birdie at the par-five 10th to get within one shot of the lead. O'Hair kept pace over the next three holes and drained an 18-foot putt for a birdie at the par-four 14th to move into first place.

O'Hair maintained his composure over the closing holes and hit his second shot into a front bunker at the par-five 17th. O'Hair played his third shot out of the sand to two feet and tapped in for birdie to reach 16-under.

O'Hair, who was the runner-up at the Byron Nelson Championship, hit his drive in the rough at the par-four closing hole behind the trees lining the right side of the fairway. He had an opening and knocked his second shot across the fairway and watched as it rolled into the hazard above the water.

He was unable to ground his club for his third, but he played his shot within seven feet of the hole. O'Hair calmly rolled in the par-saving putt for his maiden title, and a decision on whether or not to go to St. Andrews next week for the British Open.

Kuehne had three birdies over his first seven holes to grab a share of the lead, but he found trouble with a bogey at the par-four eighth. He countered with a birdie at the par-four 14th, but gave that shot back with a bogey at the following hole.

He reached the green in two at the par-five 17th and two-putted for birdie to get within one of O'Hair. Kuehne hit another huge drive at the last, but sent his second shot over the back of the green. Kuehne was unable to convert for birdie to finish second along with Damron.

Shigeki Maruyama, Richard S. Johnson and Hunter Mahan tied for seventh place at 13-under-par 271. Kevin Stadler, Jeff Brehaut and D.J. Trahan followed at 12-under-par 272.

07/10 16:20:26 ET