Johnston shoots well at District tourney, finishes second at state

Ryggs Johnston, a 12-year-old from Libby, won the Montana State Junior Championship District Qualifier in the Boys 13-years and under division for the second year in a row. 

They played June 11 on the North Course at the Whitefish Lake Golf Club. He shot 74 for 18 holes.  Par is 72.

“He competes pretty well,” said his mother, Cindy Ostrem-Johnston. 

“Especially considering the limited amount of tournaments he gets to do. He faces kids who get to compete in 50 or 60 tournaments a year. (Ryggs) gets about 15.”

Johnston got second in the Boys 13-years and under division at the Montana State Golf Association State Junior Championship State Tournament at Riverside Country Club in Bozeman on June 18 and 19.

There was a field of 21 players in that division. 

Johnston shot 74 on the first round of 18 holes and a 69 (two under par) the second day. 

Par was 71. He finished at 143, only one stroke behind the winner.

Johnston also won the Big “I” Tourney at Bridger Creek Golf Course in Bozeman on

June 20 and 21 for the Boys 13-years and under division. They played 36 holes at 12,559 yards, a longer yardage than usual for that division, and he shot 79 for the first 18 holes and 80 on the second day for a total of 159.

He and his family were in San Diego for the Calloway Junior World Golf Championships before heading to Helena for another junior tournament.