Libby's Johnston a heavy favorite at State B golf
Libby sophomore Ryggs Johnston will be a heavy favorite today and Wednesday to repeat as the Class B state golf champion.
Johnston won last year’s title by six shots at Pryor Creek Golf Club. He shot an 8-under 63 on the final day for a 131 score for 36 holes.
That winning total set an all-state class record, topping the 136 mark set by Glacier’s Larry Iverson III in 2008 at Green Meadow County Club in Helena.
Both records were set on a par 71 course.
Johnston has been a medalist in every meet this spring and won the one-day Division 3 Tournament title in Bozeman last week by eight shots with a 7-under-par 65.
Johnston will be competing with his team, which also qualified for state. The Loggers finished fourth at the divisional.
The other Logger players are Andrew Freese, Sebo Sanders and Riley Vogel.
“Ryggs has truly been a great leader for this group of boys,” Libby coach Dann Rohrer said.
“He had a goal to go to state with a team. They have been very supportive and hard working to make it possible for the Loggers to represent Libby at the state tournament. I couldn’t be prouder, or happier, for this team.”
The Bigfork boys will have Colton Stodghill and Augie Emslie competing at state. Stodghill tied for third at divisionals while Emslie tied for 14. The lowest 15 scores qualify for state play from divisionals along with the top four teams.
Stodghill and Esmlie helped Bigfork last year claim its first ever state golf championship. Both missed out on a top 15 score, however. Stodghill was just four strokes away while Emslie was 21.
The Bigfork girls will compete as a team at state by virtue of a tie-breaker with Anaconda. Both teams were fourth at the divisional.
Isabella Santistevan led Bigfork at the divisional, placing in a two-way tie for sixth place.
Ronan qualified two individuals for state — James Farmer, who was 14th at divisionals, and Brooklyn Olson, who was 10th.
Eureka has one state player — Darian Truman, who tied for 14th at divisionals.
Three Forks is the defending girls team champion.
The Class C state tournament also begins today in Seeley Lake at the Double Arrow Golf Course. Play there ends on Wednesday.