Libby's Johnston medalist at U.S. Amateur qualifier

The Montana State Golf Association (MSGA) in conjunction with the United States Golf Association (USGA) conducted a 36-hole U.S. Amateur Qualifier at Old Works Golf Course in Anaconda.

Three players from a group of 78 entrants advanced to the 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship, to be played from Aug. 14-20 at Cherry Hills Country Club and Colorado Golf Club in the greater Denver area.

Libby native and Arizona State University standout, Ryggs Johnston was the medalist with an impressive bogey-free two rounds of golf at Old Works, which was playing at more than 7,600 yards.

Johnston opened his day with a blistering 30 on his front nine with birdies on Nos. 2 and 3 and reeling off four consecutive birdies on Nos. 5-8 to go out in 30 (-6).

On the back nine, Johnston birdied holes 10 and 16 to go out in 34 for an eight-under-par 64, which tied for the lead with Garrett Endicott of San Antonio, Texas. In his second round, Johnston started on the back and birdied holes 12, 15 and 18 for 33 and closed with birdies on 3 and 6 to finish with 67 (-5) for a two-round total of 131 (-13).

This will be Johnston’s fifth trip to the Amateur (2015, 2018, 2020, 2021). He advanced to match play in his last appearance (2021). This is Johnston’s third time he has qualified at a Montana site (2015, 2018 Ranch Club).

“I started off well, hit it to two feet on two for a tap in, to get things going. I kept hitting it close, I maybe made one putt outside 10 feet, so giving myself a lot of kick-in opportunities helped,” Johnston said.

“On five I made my longest putt of the day [17-footer] I two putted for birdie on six, chipped in on seven and was cruising at that point. Today felt easy, but it’s never easy playing 36 holes in a day, but I’ve learned a lot through college events this year.”

Johnston graduated this spring but has one more year of eligibility at ASU. The 2018 Montana State Amateur Champion has a busy summer playing the Southern Amateur, Western Amateur and now the U.S. Amateur.

Jacob Tarkany of Scottsdale, Arizona was second with a two-round score of 137 (-7). Tarkany, who finished his redshirt freshman season at Ohio State had a bogey-free first round of 68 (33-35) and four under par. In his second round, he posted 35 on the front and 34 on the back nine for a 69 (-3) to finish at seven under. Tarkany’s lone bogey was in the second round on hole 13. Last year Tarkany qualified for the amateur.

“It’s always fun to play against the best amateurs in the world on great courses. Today was really fun, it was a good test with scoring opportunities and also some tough holes. In the morning I was very steady, clean card. In the afternoon I had good par saves in the wind and made some birdies coming in,” Tarkany said.

The final qualifying spot went to Cooper Humphreys of Kelowna, British Columbia.

Humphrey’s makes the field on his second attempt in qualifying. Humphreys is taking a gap year before attending Oregon State University in 2024.

Humphreys in his first nine birdied holes 12 and 15 to go out in 34, he bogeyed holes 2 and 6 to shoot even-par 72 for his first round. In his second round, Humphreys was bogey free making birdies on holes 3, 6, 8, 12 and 15 with sides of 33-34 for a 67 (-5).

“I liked the course, it was a super fun layout, I liked the slag bunkers. This is only my second 36-hole qualifier, so it was a good challenge. I was two-under through nine and

then the flatstick cooled off on the back, but in the second round I figured out a few things and stayed patient, it’s a cliché, but it paid off,” Humphreys said.

The first alternate was Garrett Endicott of San Antonio, Texas with scores of 64-76 – 140 and the second alternate was Joey Lovell of Bozeman, Montana, last year’s medalist with scores of 73-67 – 140 the alternates were decided in a one-hole playoff.

Golfers across 95 qualifying sites will attempt to qualify for the field of 312 players.

To be eligible for 2023 U.S. Amateur qualifying, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4 or be a professional.

Note: Full results can be found online at www.msgagolf.org and results are attached.