Libby's Longshot: 15-year-old Ryggs Johnston takes aim at the U.S. Amateur

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — In a field of 312 golfers at the U.S. Amateur Championship golf tournament at Olympia Fields Country Club in suburban Chicago, only three are younger than Libby’s Ryggs Johnston.

Age, however, has never been a deterrent for the 15-year-old prodigy.

“I’ve been one of the younger guys all the time (since playing) in Montana tournaments when I was 9 and 10 playing against the big kids,” Johnston said.

Johnston, who will begin his freshman year at Libby High School in a few weeks, has played well beyond his years all summer while compiling accolades at some of the most prestigious tournaments in the country.

In the last few months, Johnston has won the Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour Elite, finished second at the U.S. Kids Teen World Championship and third at the Trusted Choice Big “I” National Championship, leading the latter for the first two rounds.

He successfully defended his state junior championship and led some of the best pro and amateur golfers of the region after nine holes at the U.S. Open local qualifier.

To qualify for the U.S. Amateur, he shot 7-under-par 65 in his final round at the Ranch Club in Missoula to finish 11-under for the tournament. That performance was three strokes better than 2015 Montana state amateur champion Tom Swanson, a junior on the University of Michigan golf team. It was four strokes better than Brandon McIver, a senior at the University of Oregon, who has won the state amateur twice and qualified for the U.S. Open two years ago.

“I was playing good that day,” Johnston said.

“I had it going. Anyone could’ve done it. I just happened to be making putts that day.”

Johnston begins play at the U.S. Amateur on Monday at 7:40 a.m. on the 10th hole of the North Course, playing with California’s Kyle de Silva, a sophomore at Cal State Fullerton, and Ireland’s Gary Hurley, who finished second at the European Amateur Championship earlier this month.

The U.S. Amateur Championship has produced some of the best players in the history of golf, with Tiger Woods winning three times and Jack Nicklaus twice. The tournament champion receives an automatic invitation to play in the Masters, U.S. and British Opens. The runner-up also receives an invitation to the Masters and the U.S. Open.

During a practice round on Saturday, Johnston played with defending U.S. Amateur champion Gunn Yang, who competed in this year’s U.S. and British Opens.

Johnston said the course is playing long and fast.

“The course is really nice,” Johnston said.

“The greens are pretty fast, especially if you get above the pin. Every green slopes from back to front. If you hit it long, they’re fast putts coming back.”

The field at the tournament is extremely strong, including 12 current or former USGA champions.

Johnston will have some help on his bag. Libby’s Joe Cielak, who finished in a tie for seventh at the Montana State Mid-Amateur tournament this week, will be caddying for Johnston and helping guide him through his round. Cielak was also on his bag at the qualifier in Missoula earlier this year.

“He’s more experienced,” Johnston said. “(He) calms me down when I need to, gives me some advice out there. He knows how to calm me down and get me to focus on the next shot.”

Even as one of the younger competitors at the tournament, Johnston is confident in his chances this week.

“I expect to do well and I have high expectations,” Johnston said.

“At the beginning of the summer I didn’t really expect to qualify for the U.S. Amateur. But, when I got to the qualifier I expected to do well and win.

“(I’m) just trying to see how I compare to the best amateur golfers in the country and around the world.

“I think if I play how I can play, I should be right in there.”