Johnston wins title at junior golf championship

Libby’s Ryggs Johnston won the 14-15 age division at the Montana State Golf Association’s State Junior Championships at the Laurel Golf Club on Tuesday, after shooting a 3-over-75 in the second round of the  tournament. He shot a 2-over-74 on Monday, earning a combined score of 149.

Johnston defeated Billings’ Caleb Trost, who shot a 153 in the division.

“After the first day, I was feeling good. It was really tight in my age group,” Johnston said. “On the second day, I just needed to play steady.”

Johnston said the most difficult part of the course in Laurel was the greens. It was the first time Johnston won the title at the Montana State Golf Association’s State Junior Championships. He had previously placed second.

“I expected to take first,” Johnston said. “I was relieved when I did.”

The title will allow Johnston to compete in the Montana/Alberta Junior Ryder Cup on August 11 at the Whitefish Lake Golf Club. It also qualifies him for the Junior America’s Cup on July 27-31 at the Shaughnessy Country Club in Vancouver, B.C.

Jimmy Mee, a 24-year-old Libby native who has competed in multiple sectional qualifiers for the U.S. Open and plays with Johnston often, said Johnston puts in the time necessary to succeed.

“He has the drive to get better,” Mee said. “If you have the drive to get better, improvement and success usually follows.”

Mee is  a PGA Tour Canada qualifier right now and was close to qualifying for the U.S. Open at a regional qualifier in Creswell, Ore., in early June.

Mee said Johnston has put in a ton of hours on the course during summer and on simulators during winter.

Besides his golf success, Johnston has also received national recognition for his basketball ability.

In April, Johnston earned third place in the Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals in Springfield, Mass. He hit 43 of his 45 free throws during the competition. He made 41 consecutive shots after missing his first and fourth attempts during his first round of 10 shots.

Had he won, his name would have been engraved on a plaque at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Ill.

Later this summer, Johnston will go to San Diego to compete in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships. He also plans to compete in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in North Carolina.