Ryggs Johnston sets course record at Whitefish Lake GC
Libby’s Ryggs Johnston tees off on the 13th hold of the North Course at Whitefish Lake Golf Club during the Northwest A Golf Kickoff on Wednesday. (Danny McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Ryggs Johnston didn’t need a tune-up tournament.
After a summer full of travel and golf, the Libby junior hit the ground running in his first tournament of the high school season, firing an 11-under 61 to win the Northwest A Kickoff tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Club on Wednesday.
His round shattered the North Course record of 64, which was previously held by professional golfer Ryan Malby.
Johnston also broke his own junior course record of 65.
“I played pretty good,” Johnston said with a smile after turning in his scorecard.
“You can’t complain with a 61. I mean, there’s a couple of holes out there I can think about where I could have had it down to 59, because that’s kind of the magic number.
“I just tried to play really aggressive just to see if I could get a low number.”
Instead, Johnston happily settled for a 61, which matched his lowest score ever in competition. He also shot 61 in the first round of the Class B state tournament last year at the Marias Valley Golf Course in Shelby on his way to the all-class state record, which he already held after his freshman season.
Johnston entered the tournament intimately familiar with the North Course thanks to appearances in the annual 4th of July Tournament and high school tournaments held at the club.
The familiarity paid off.
“I’ve always liked the Whitefish North,” Johnston said. “It’s one of my favorite courses in the Valley.”
Why wouldn’t it be?
The Arizona State commit dominated the course on Wednesday, racing out to a sizable lead early with a 6-under mark on the front nine. Playing from the white tees, he drove the green on the par-4, 337-yard 13th and made his eagle putt. One of few slipups on the day came on No. 14, where Johnston three-putted for bogey.
“That kind of ruined the 59,” he said.
It didn’t come close to ruining his victory, however.
Johnston ran away from the field for a 13-stroke win over the Hamilton duo of Bryce Reed and Tristen Hanson, which led the Broncs to the boys’ team title with a total score of 320.
Polson finished a close second at 324, and Libby was a distant third at 350.
Whitefish captured the girls’ team title with a 399, narrowly edging Polson at 402. Libby was third with a team score of 446.
Northwest A Kickoff Results
Whitefish Lake Golf Club
North Course
Wednesday
Boys Individual
Ryggs Johnston Libby 61
Bryce Reed Hamilton 74
Tristen Hanson Hamilton 75
Carson McDaniel Polson 75
Matt Hobbs Polson 76
Trey Kelley Polson 79
Zel Frost Stevensville 80
Derek Wolff Frenchtown 81
Tanner Hanson Hamilton 84
Tyler Langton Columbia Falls 85
Logan Lybbert Columbia Falls 86
Cameron Kahle Whitefish 86
Zach Taylor Hamilton 87
Ben Duhame Frenchtown 89
Trey Perkins Columbia Falls 90
Sean Craft Stevensville 92
Drew Brozek Whitefish 92
Sebo Sanders Libby 94
Calvin Nowlan Polson 94
Grant Kahle Whitefish 94
Anthony Camel Ronan 95
Ivan Yazvac Stevensville 95
Colby Emmoas Frenchtown 96
Hogan Kelley Polson 96
Michael McKay Corvallis 97
Nate Hull Corvallis 97
Andrew Freese Libby 97
Riley Vogel Libby 98
Colton Mauler Stevensville 102
Mark Pollock Browning 103
Alex Stein Whitefish 103
Trey Thompson Libby 104
Erik Miller Whitefish 104
Nick Draper Hamilton 106
Luke Schlimgen Corvallis 107
Matt Glenn Corvallis 107
Nic Maetello Frenchtown 107
Reush Powell Columbia Falls 112
Ashton Pintok Corvallis 118
DJ Laycock Columbia Falls 141
Girls Individual
Courtney Ockum Frenchtown 83
Brooklyn Olson Ronan 88
Ella Shaw Whitefish 91
Cali Cannon Polson 93
Maykayla Iabuff Browning 96
Gracie Young Whitefish 97
Amanda Farley Polson 98
Kelci Martin Hamilton 101
Berkley Ellis Polson 101
Sammee Bradeen Libby 102
Keelee Storrud Corvallis 103
Megan Archibald Whitefish 103
Anna Elm Whitefish 108
Cathrine Gustin Frenchtown 109
Harper Armitage Frenchtown 110
Esme Yarbrough Polson 110
Allie Snyder Libby 112
Kendall Reed Whitefish 112
Dainya Polk Browning 113
Sydney Croucher Libby 116
Kahlyn Hagness Libby 116
Haile Spear Hamilton 126
Chloe Patterson Corvallis 128
Signee Storrud Corvallis 129
Hylee Cannon Libby 133
Kalie Patterson Corvallis 149
Boys Team
Hamilton 320
Polson 324
Libby 350
Stevensville 369
Columbia Falls 373
Frenchtown 373
Whitefish 375
Corvallis 408
Browning Incomplete team
Ronan Incomplete team
Girls Team
Whitefish 399
Polson 402
Libby 446
Corvallis 509
Columbia Falls Did not compete
Stevensville Did not compete
Browning Incomplete Team
Frenchtown Incomplete Team
Hamilton Incomplete Team
Ronan Incomplete Team