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Gossett earns first PGA Tour win

David Gossett carded a five-under 66 on Sunday to hang on and win his first PGA Tour event at the John Deere Classic. His four-day total of 19-under-par 265 was enough to hold off Briny Baird, who came within one shot of earning his first win on tour.

Pete Jordan fired a six-under 65 to finish alone in third place at 17- under, followed by last week's B.C. Open winner Jeff Sluman, who took fourth at minus-16.

Gossett held a one-shot lead over Baird heading to the driveable par- four 14th, where both players missed the green off the tee. Each player chipped inside of five feet, but it was Baird who converted his birdie putt to match Gossett at the top of the leaderboard. Gossett's three-foot birdie chance missed right, knotting the two at 18-under.

At the par-four 15th, Baird two-putted for par but Gossett drained a 12- foot birdie, which was the result of an eight-iron approach that sailed right over the stick. The birdie gave the 22-year-old a one-shot edge.

Gossett played his tee shot at the par-three 16th safely on the green, where he two-putted for par. Baird pushed his tee shot right to a chipping area and failed to get up and down to save par.

With a two shot-lead, Gossett hit a poor tee shot at 17 that landed in tire tracks. He received a drop and nailed his second shot near a bunker in the fairway but played his third to five feet. Baird ripped a three-wood for his second that came to rest on the higher level of the two-tiered green, 50 feet from the hole. Baird lagged his putt toward the cup and tapped in for his birdie, while Gossett missed his relatively easy birdie chance.

Gossett found the rough again off the tee at 18 but played a solid second shot that ran through the green into a chipping area. He pitched his second four feet past the hole and had to wait and see if Baird could convert his 25- footer for birdie.

Baird already began walking toward the hole as his putt died short and to the left. After Baird tapped in for par, Gossett rolled in the par save for his first win as a professional.

"I'm just pleased that I was able to hang in there today and make that last putt," said Gossett, who earned $504,000 for the victory.

Gossett, the 1999 U.S. Amateur champion, won in only his fifth start of the year on the PGA Tour. He played the majority of this season on the Buy.com Tour, where he shared second two weeks ago at the Wichita Open.

"The game of golf, when you play well, it doesn't matter what tour you play on," said Gossett, who became the first player to win on a sponsor's exemption since Tiger Woods captured the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational. "I had a great time. It's been fun."

Jordan birdied five of his first seven holes and tied Gossett for the lead. Gossett quickly reclaimed the lead when he hit an eight-iron to six feet at No. 7 to set up birdie.

Gossett was once again joined at the top, this time by Baird after the 29- year-old drained a 10-foot birdie at the 11th. Gossett regained sole possession of first place with a 15-foot birdie at 13. Baird saved par on the same hole with a 10-foot putt after sailing over the green with his approach.

Ian Leggatt and Matt Gogel shared fifth place at 15-under par.

Paul Stankowski finished alone in seventh at 14-under 270, while Brain Claar and Woody Austin tied for eighth place at minus-13.

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