Ryggs Johnston in US Amateur Round of 32

PARKER, Colo. — Libby product Ryggs Johnston, a super senior at Arizona State, won his match Wednesday and is through to the Round of 32 at the 123rd US Amateur golf championship.

Johnston shot rounds of 67 and 73 at Colorado Golf Club to advance to the Round of 64, which is the start of match play. As 19th seed he outlasted Colin Prater in 21 holes: Prater was 2-up after eight holes, and then Johnston made four straight birdies to go 2-up; Prater birdied 17 to draw even.

On the third playoff hole Johnston made birdie while Prater made par, and he’ll play Auburn golfer Carson Bacha at 10:10 a.m. Mountain on Thursday. Bacha beat ASU golfer Luke Potter 1-up on Wednesday.

Johnston was one of four Sundevils to make the Round of 64, and the only one to advance. The reigning Pac-12 men’s golf scholar athlete of the year has already earned a business management degree with a 4.0 grade-point average.

He could be looking at 36-plus holes of golf Thursday, since the Round of 16 is the same day.