b'GOLF MONTANARyggs Johnston Wins Australian Openby Ty Sparing, MSGA Communications CoordinatorJohnston is just the 11th U.S. player to win the Australian Open, withWhen Johnston returned home to Libby, his hometown gave some of the others being Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer,him a parade, with him riding on top of a fire truck. (Photo by and Jordan Spieth. (Photo by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP) Cora Rosanova)F resh off a thrilling run through three grueling stages of the(68) in each of his final three rounds, which staved off the DP World Tour Qualifying School in which Ryggs Johnstoncompetition enough for a three-stroke victory. Australian fought tooth and nail for one of 20 coveted tour cards forfavorite Curtis Luck made a run during the third round, 2025, he found himself Down Under in Australia for his first bitgetting to within three strokes of the leader Johnston, but the of action as a pro. Many of us thought the excitement mightMontana native started the final round with an eagle on the die down for a bit as he gets acquainted with his new statusfirst hole, and that proved to be more than enough cushion as a European Tour golfer. That was not to be, however, asthe rest of the way. Johnston decided to go ahead and win the Australian Open, inIn victory the 24-year-old Johnston was awarded the just his second tournament as a pro.Stonehaven Cup, which bears the names of greatness: Johnston, a native of Libby, Mont. (population: 2,700),Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Norman, Watson, Sarazen, McIIroy, having earned the tour card in early November, was inand Spieth, just to name a few. Along with etching his Brisbane, Australia for the Australian PGA Championship.name into golf history, Johnston saw his world ranking go Playing at the Royal Queensland Golf Club, the former Arizonafrom 954th in the world to 316th, he qualified for the 153rd State golfer finished in a tie for 43 rdplace with a four-roundBritish Open later this year, and earned roughly $245,000 score of -3 (210). With winnings nearing $8,000, it was a solidfor his efforts. first tournament for the new pro.With a little break in the action during the DP World Just a week later Johnston shocked the golfing world withTour schedule, Johnston flew back to Montana for a spell, a first-place finish at the Australian Open. He is just the thirdhitting simulator shots and staying ready to get back out on American in the last 31 years to win the event, with the last timetour. There was even a parade held in Libby to celebrate the being in 2016 when it was Jordan Spieth who came out on top. hometown heros victory at the Australian Open, with Johnston Held at both the Kingston Heath Golf Club and Victoriariding on top of a fire truck. Its a proud community that has Golf Club in Melbourne, a blistering first round of -7 (65) putwatched Johnston develop from a prodigious young talent Johnston in the top tier of the leaderboard, where he would sitinto an All-American at Arizona State, and now a DP World throughout the entirety of the event. At one point he tallied fiveTour professional with a big win already under his belt and birdies in a row (holes 12-16), with eight total that first day.more momentous occasions like the British Open still yet in Seemingly without nerves and playing with confidence,his future. Naturally, the parade route started and ended at Johnston didnt let up the rest of the way as he posted a -5Cabinet View Golf Club in Libby, Johnstons home course.GOLF MONTANA|MAR 20255'