Two-time state golf champ Ryggs Johnston swings for the future

Armed with a golf club since he was two — his first one was plastic — Ryggs Johnston, a sophomore at Libby High School and state champion golfer, was seemingly born to golf.

Despite breaking high school state records this year — including his own — Johnston said the stand-out moment in his golfing history was beating the scores of two college golfers and making U.S. amateur golfer. Playing amongst the best golfers in the state who have not yet gone professional, with no age limit, Johnston held his own at age 15.

Now 16, a tall and yet unassuming Johnston smiled as he said during an interview on June 7 that being a career golfer is his “Plan A.” He aspires for a full college scholarship on the merit of his golfing and academic success and hopes to attend Arizona State.

Although golf is often associated with retirees, pro golfers like Tiger Woods and 28-year-old Jason Day of Australia are making the sport more appealing to young people, Johnston said, even though it can be hard work.

“I don’t have the summer that most kids have,” he said, as he gears up for a summer of amateur golfing tournaments. “But I do get to go a lot of places.”

Dann Rohrer, Johnston’s golf coach, said “the thing about Ryggs is, he was so good so young, everyone forgot he was 12 years old. But you still need to be a kid and he does get to do that too.”

Previous trips have taken Johnston and his family, including caddy Joe Cielak, as far as North Carolina and Hawaii.

“(Joe) doesn’t go on all the trips with us,” Johnston said. “But he’s a calming influence and can help me with advice.”

Where they go depends on what Johnston qualifies for, and he is prepared to go further for a bigger tournament.

Family support is an important factor in Johnston’s success. His mother Cindy, a physical education teacher at Libby High School, is upbeat about a summer of traveling with her only child.

“We’re off to a state tournament on Monday (June 12), the first day of vacation,” she said Tuesday.

Johnston’s grandparents, who live a mile away, have a golf simulator in their basement so Ryggs can practice in the winter — a time that competes with his other passion, basketball season.

The winter break from golf is timely.

“I was pretty burnt out at the end of last summer,” Ryggs said. “It’s good to find something else to do for awhile, then I’m ready to go again.”

He also enjoys “hunting, fishing, anything outdoors and sports in general.”

Rohrer put Johnston’s golfing accomplishments in perspective.

“Ryggs set a new low record across all classifications at state championships last year,” he explained. “He scored 61 and 67. No high school student in Montana has ever shot that. He beat his own record from the previous year by three, so he really challenged himself.”

Now, at the end of his sophomore year, Johnston uses competition as motivation in a friendly bet with six classmates to see if they can all become co-valedictorian.

“We’re all pushing each other” he said, acknowledging he himself sometimes needs a push. “I have to work harder at school as the classes get tougher.”

Although high school and college golf is played in teams, Johnston enjoys the individual aspects of the game.

“I like competing,” he said. “It’s fun that it’s all you — you don’t worry about anyone else, you either make a mistake or you hit the great shot.”

Johnston’s work ethic stands out in a student of his age, Rohrer said.

“It’s obvious he’s blessed with a lot of talent, but the way that he works it’s as though he’s got no talent at all,” he said. “Ryggs is committed to being the best he can be.”

Despite his success and the expectations that rise with it, Johnston is philosophical about the future.

“I don’t feel too much pressure, (except) maybe a bit at state championships,” he said. “I just try to do my best.”