Libby's Johnston earns European Tour card for '25

Libby’s Ryggs Johnston has joined the ranks of professional golf with a bang.

Johnston competed in the inaugural PGA Tour Americas this summer after qualifying for the new tour due to finishing in the top 25 of the 2023-2024 university rankings.

Johnston made it through the second stage of the DP World Tour Q School and was headed to the finals in Tarragona, Spain at Infinitum Golf (Lakes and Hills courses).

There, he made the cut to the final stage. Johnston’s rounds of 71-70-69-65 allowed him to advance to the top 65. Before inclement weather struck the area Wednesday, he shot a fifth-round 65 that left him with a minus-17, tied for fifth.

Play resumed Thursday morning and Johnston picked up where he left off, firing a 4-under to finish at -21 for the grueling tournament with a six-round 407. His seventh-place finish secured a DP World Tour card for the 2025 season.

Johnston was eight strokes behind winner Edoardo Molinari of Italy. Molinari has competed in the Ryder Cup.

The DP World Tour is known as the PGA European Tour and features the top pro golfers in Europe. It was established in 1972.

Johnston was a four-time Class A state golf champion for the Libby Loggers. He also enjoyed a very successful career at Arizona State, earning third-team All-America status and helping the Sun Devils to the 2024 Pac-12 title. He was second individually at the Pac-12 Championship.

Johnston was third individually at the 2021 NCAA championships. He was first team PAC-12 in 2021 and 2024 while finishing with 14 career top 10 finishes.

Johnston graduated ASU in 2023 with a management degree and certificate in sports business. He then earned ASU’s Bill Kajikawa Award in 2023-24, given to a senior student-athlete based on academic excellence, athletic accomplishment, leadership and service in the community.

According to Sun Devils sports information, Johnston played 157 rounds in 52 tournaments with 44 rounds in the 60s. His stroke average was 71.42.

The Tour Americas includes some of the best young golfers from 28 counties who are seeking PGA Tour membership.

Johnston opened the Tour Americas at Beachlands Victoria Open June 20-23 in Vancouver, British Columbia. He didn’t make the cut there, shooting a 2-under par 138.

But Johnston cranked things up a notch the following week at the ATB Classic at the Northern Bear Golf Club in Strathcona County, Alberta. He finished 12th overall after shooting 8-under par 280.

At the Explore NB Open July 11-14 on Mactaquac Golf Course in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Johnston was 10-under par while placing 49th in three rounds.

The next weekend, July 18-21, Johnston missed the cut at the Bromont Open in Quebec while shooting even par.

At the Commissionaires Ottawa Open July 25-28 on Eagle Creek Golf Club, Johnston made the cut and finished tied for 56th with a 10-under par 278.

At the BioSteel Championship, Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, Ontario on Aug. 1-4, Johnston shot 4-under, but missed the cut.

The Tour returned to Western Canada Aug. 15-18 for the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open at Waskesiu Lake. Johnston made the cut and finished tied for 23rd at minus-10.

At the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open on Aug. 22-25, Johnston enjoyed his best finish while placing tied for fifth at 22-under.

Wrapping up play in August, the Tour stop was at the CRMC Championship at Craguns Legacy Courses in Brainerd, Minnesota. Johnston placed 12th with an 11-under.

The season concluded Sept. 5-8 at the Fortinet Cup Championship on the TPC Toronto in Caledon, Ontario, Johnston made the cut and finished 41st with a plus-8.