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Libby’s Johnston Defends Golf Title, Rewrites State Record

Libby sophomore wins Class B title by 14 strokes, breaks state record by three shots

By Dillon Tabish
Ryggs Johnston competes in the Earl Hunt Memorial Fourth of July Tournament in Whitefish in 2016. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

Ryggs Johnston successfully defended his Class B state championship and rewrote his old state record in the process.

The sophomore at Libby High School shot a 5-under 67 in the second and final round of the state tournament at Marias Valley Golf Club in Shelby on Thursday. He finished the tournament 61-67 — 128, winning by 14 strokes and breaking his previous all-class state record by three strokes.

The state title is the latest accolade for the talented striker from Libby, who is one of the nation’s top junior golfers. Last fall he already took care of his college plans by committing to play at Arizona State University after graduating from Libby in 2019.

Last summer, he tied for fifth overall at the Junior America’s Cup in Mexico against many of the top amateur golfers in North America. He was the fourth-best golfer from the U.S. and finished only three strokes out of second place and five out of first.

At the Class B state tournament, Kylie Esh of Missoula Loyola won the girls championship, shooting 70-76 — 146. Three Forks won the girls team title. Missoula Loyola won the boys team title.

Bigfork’s Colton Stodghill placed 14th, shooting 83-79—162. On the girls team, Isabella Santistevan placed 13th, shooting 88-96 — 184.

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Class B State Golf Tournament
Thursday, Final Round
Marias Valley Golf Club, Shelby
Par 72
Second Round

BOYS

Team Scores — Missoula Loyola 642, Townsend 645, Colstrip 646, Shelby 671, Big Timber 687, Manhattan 693, Conrad 701, Libby 711, Shepherd 718, Huntley Project 720, Glasgow 734, Choteau 756.

Top 15 Individuals

1, Ryggs Johnston, Libby, 61-67—128 (new record: Johnston, 131, 2016); 2, Bucky Crippen, Missoula Loyola, 71-71—142; 3, Colton Hudson, Huntley Project, 69-74—143; 4, Peter Brown, Colstrip, 73-73—146; 5, Bryce Mocabee, Shepherd, 76-73—149; 6, Scott DeMars, Townsend, 80-72—152; 7, Blake Finn, Big Timber, 77-76—153; 8, Jaden Graveley, Townsend, 83-73—156; T9, Cody Graveley, Townsend, 81-79—160; T9, Thomas Sellman, Missoula Loyola, 81-79—160; T9, Jayce Griffith, Roundup, 83-77—160; T12, Nathan McCormick, Manhattan, 83-78—161; T12, Dylan Beckman, Thompson Falls, 84-77—161; 14, Colton Stodghill, Bigfork, 83-79—162; T15, Lane Bradley, Colstrip, 84-79—163; T15, Brock Whitted, Shelby, 84-79—163.

LOYOLA (642) — Bucky Crippen 71-71—142, Thomas Sellman 81-79—160, Bryan Swanson 81-89—170, Dylan Beck 90-85—175, Sean Kaleva 92-84—176.

TOWNSEND (645) — Scott DeMars 80-72—152, Jaden Graveley 83-73—156, Cody Graveley 81-79—160, Easton Hatfield 89-88—177, Brett Williams 94-91—185

COLSTRIP (646) — Peter Brown 73-73—146, Lane Bradley 84-79—163, O’shon Old Mouse 85-81—166, Ty Bradley 86-85—171, JT Baer 108-102—210

SHELBY (671) — Brock Whitted 84-79—163, TJ Reynolds 86-80—166, Aaron White 89-77—166, Macager McAllister 90-87—177, Jarod Anderson 89-90—179

BIG TIMBER (687) — Blake Finn 77-76—153, Cliff Weller 85-84—169, Carter Brownlee 91-87—178, Caleb Patton 92-99—191, Brandon Schwers 96-95—191

MANHATTAN (693) — Nathan McCormack 83-78—161, Josh Neth 83-83—166, Steven Cantalupo 88-88—176, Nathan Van Dyke 97-93—190, Dylan Shults 103-93—196

CONRAD (701) — Cale Ostrom 79-89—168, Kyle Vandenacre 83-86—169, Blake Vandenacre 94-84—178, Nolan Taule 95-92—187, Bridger Russell 94-100—194

LIBBY (711) — Ryggs Johnston 61-67—128, Andrew Freese 96-93—189, Sebo Sanders 95-102—197, Riley Vogel 104-93—197

SHEPHERD (718) — Bryce Mocabee 76-73—149, Chad Nebel 83-88—171, Trent Saunders 96-98—194, Dallas Mittlestadt 107-97—204, Ashton Jorgenson 116-109—225

HUNTLEY PROJECT (720) — Colton Hudson 69-74—143, Chad Geck 97-85—182, Wyatt Selman 95-102—197, Tanner Geiss 95-103—198, Tanner Steorts 112-124—236

GLASGOW (734) — Blaine Myrick 90-89—179, Ike Braaten 89-93—182, Kaden Fossum 92-95—187, Oden Hallock 98-96—194, Cody Ross 90-107—197

CHOTEAU (756) —Trenton Durocher 82-91—173, Jordan O’Dell 92-94—186, Kyler Crabtree 90-97—187, Garrett Depner 103-107—210, Kolby Kovatch 130-119—249

BIGFORK (NS) — Colton Stodghill 83-79—161, Augie Emslie 83-83—166

RED LODGE (NS) — Tucker Kane 89-88—177, Hunter Boos 83-99—182

ROUNDUP (NS) — Jayce Griffith 83-77—160

THOMPSON FALLS (NS) — Dylan Beckman 84-77—161

ROCKY BOY (NS) — Chris Arkinson 86-79—165

POPLAR (NS) — Damon Sadler 92-85—177

RONAN (NS) — James Farmer 90-89—179

BAKER (NS) — Kadon Gentilini 113-95—208

JEFFERSON (NS) — Josh Eckmann 81-WD—WD

GIRLS

Team Scores — Three Forks 714, Shelby 741, Missoula Loyola 751, Columbus 814, Bigfork 845, Poplar 856, Thompson Falls 858, Big Timber 874, Glasgow 899, Huntley Project 944.

Individual Top 15

1, Kylie Esh, Missoula Loyola, 70-76—146; 2, Katie Fagg, Missoula Loyola, 83-76—159; 3, Skyler Martin, Shelby, 83-77—160; 4, Tanna Campbell, Big Timber, 84-79—163; 5, Sydney Rochford, Three Forks, 85-79—164; 6, Shainy Mack, Three Forks, 91-81—172; 7, Abbey Aklestad, Shelby, 90-88—178; T8, Megan Vandenacre, Conrad, 88-91—179; T8, Olivia Hess, Columbus, 90-89—179; 10, Elsie Brown, Thompson Falls, 91-89—180; T11, Brooklyn Olson, Ronan, 91-92—183; T11, Katie Friez, Forsyth, 96-87—183; 13, Isabella Santistevan, Bigfork, 88-96—184; 14, Megan Slagter, Baker, 95-90—185; T15, Katie Bieler, Choteau, 90-97—187; T15, Brittney Robinson, Three Forks, 94-93—187.

THREE FORKS (714) — Sydney Rochford 85-79—164, Shainy Mack 91-81—172, Brittney Robinson 94-93—187, Makayla Rowan 93-100—193, Taylor Jones 99-98—197

SHELBY (741) — Skyler Martin 83-77—160, Abbey Aklestad 90-88—178, Kendall Anderson 103-95—198, Maddy Hellinger 108-102—210, Bailey Johnson 103-111—214

MISSOULA LOYOLA (751) — Kylie Esh 70-76—146, Katie Fagg 83-76—159, Jordan Huffman 120-117—237, Ashton Libel 133-122—255, Isadora Tomazeli 93-0—DQ

COLUMBUS (814) — Olivia Hess 90-89—179, Bailey Johannes 89-99—188, Karsen Marjerison 120-102—222, Baylee Gordon 108-117—225, Chloe Ketchum 131-139—270

BIGFORK (845) — Isabella Santistevan 88-96—184, Melissa Paulsen 102-101—203, Carly Stodghill 108-115—223, Rachel Whitney 120-115—235, Hattie Emslie 128-128—256

POPLAR (856) — Hailey Brunelle 93-105—198, Mia Frederick 102-113—215, Lyndsey Young 110-105—215, Sammy Brunelle 114-114—228, Kamryn Azure 127-132—259

THOMPSON FALLS (858) — Elsie Brown 91-89—180, Julia Vanicek 97-109—206, Jessica Bronner 99-107—206, Maggie Riddell 131-135—266

BIG TIMBER (874) — Tanna Campbell 84-79—163, Madilyn Emter 109-93—202, Marissa Morgan 129-124—253, Rylee Wittrock 126-130—256, Holli Kovatch 148-135—283

GLASGOW (899) — Heidi Moon 113-98—211, Lexi Pehlke 110-110—220, Fallon Larsen 116-115—231, Taylor Palm 114-123—237

HUNTLEY PROJECT (944) — Andi Crane 105-91—196, Jessika Harman 115-126—241, Payton Tigner 122-131—253, Emily Ley 125-135—260, Ashton Albrecht 132-129—261

CUT BANK (NS) — Tyler Matt 116-118—234, Jordan Whitford 120-120—240, Taelynn Still Smoking 127-118—245, Ashley McLean 154-0—WD

CONRAD (NS) — Megan Vandenacre 88-91—179, Kate Murack 116-110—226

RONAN (NS) — Brooklyn Olson 91-92—183

FORSYTH (NS) — Katie Friez 96-87—183

BAKER (NS) — Megan Slagter 95-90—185

CHOTEAU (NS) — Katie Bieler 90-97—187

ROUNDUP (NS) — Brennan Larson 93-103—196

EUREKA (NS) — Darian Truman 95-112—207

TOWNSEND (NS) — Morgan Nunn 106-104—210

LAME DEER (NS) — Jasmyne Two Moons 121-109—230

MALTA (NS) — Kloie Marks 141-0—WD