Johnston and Shin claim Australian Open titles
Top Ryggs Johnston – image Golf Australia ; Bottom Jiyai Shin – image Golf Australia
24-year-old American Ryggs Johnston completed an outstanding performance in just his second as a cardholder on the DP World Tour by claiming a three-shot victory at the ISPS Handa Australian Open at Kingston Heath.
The man from Montana, began his final round tied in the lead with playing partner Lucas Herbert with an eagle at his very first hole but it would a roller coaster of a ride to the turn with two birdies and three bogeys to begin the back nine at 1 under for the day and 15 under for the tournament.
Johnston was tied with Herbert as he made the turn but at that point the pair had been joined in the lead by 28 year old West Australian Curtis Luck, one of Australian golf’s most outstanding amateurs until turning professional in 2017.
Luck, who won the US and Asia Pacific Amateur Championships along with an Eisenhower Trophy Medal in a stellar 2016, was playing 30 minutes ahead of Johnston and Herbert. After reaching the turn in 33, he added another birdie at the 10th to be at 15 under and tied for the lead.
Marc Leishman was just one back and so it was all on for the final nine holes with any one of seven or eight players still, very much, in the hunt.
When Luck birdied the 13th and 14th to move into a clear lead however it appeared as if the title might well go to the 2016 WA Open Champion until that is he found trouble at the 17th and 18th to finish his championship at 15 under after a final round of 68.
Out on the course, Johnston had birdied the 10th and when he added birdies at the 14th and 15th he had taken the lead and with a run of pars from there he was the champion by three shots over Luck while Herbert dropped away dramatically with three bogeys for a homeward nine of 39 and an agonising share of 5th place.
“It was definitely a little stressful,” said the winner. “The weather was kind of up and down. It was really nice for 15 minutes and really bad for 15 minutes and I knew I was right in it and just had to come about towards the end.
“On 14 I kind of hit it right again and wasn’t in a great spot and I got myself out of trouble and made a nice 12-15 footer for birdie there and then made a longer one on 15 and that’s kind of when I was really like, ‘alright, you can win this tournament, let’s go’.
“And then when I walked up to 17 green, I finally saw the leaderboard and saw I had a three-shot lead and then I could take a little bit of a breath and just say, I just need to hit a couple more good shots and I’ll be done.”
Having just secured his DP World Tour card at the gruelling and recent Q School, Johnston was asked what his expectations were ahead of the tournament.
“I pretty much came to Australia fresh off Q School. I mean I flew back to the States for less than a day and then flew out here and honestly I was just trying to use the last tournament as kind of a warm-up and then hopefully played better in this one and kind of did that. But as far as winning, I probably didn’t really expect to come out here and win. I just wanted to come out here and play good golf and I just happened to put myself in good position today.”
For Luck it was a case of what might have been, but it is a delight to see this very artistic and creative golfer back in form after a significant neck injury has curtailed his career of late.
While disappointed at not finishing off the event as he would have liked and potentially challenging for his own national open title, Luck will gain a start at the Open Championship in July as one of the three qualifiers via International Final Qualifying from this event.
Johnston and Marc Leishman were the other two who gained a start at Royal Portrush in July.
“Obviously, that is a massive perk,” said Luck referring to a start at the Open. “The finish wasn’t ideal but at the end of the day three months ago I wasn’t hitting balls so I don’t think I can complain too much.
“I think I have been rusty in the four events I have played here in Australia and I think that probably showed down the stretch and I was doing my best to cling on but it got the better of me but am pretty happy how things are.
“Things are looking up but it is still a balancing act and still don’t quite know what next year looks like.”
Luck has a medical exemption for the Korn Ferry Tour but his schedule will be dependent on his continued progress from injury.
Jiyai Shin lived up to expectations by winning the Australian Women’s Open by two shots from the winner in each of the past two years Ashleigh Buhai of Korea.
Shin had opened up a substantial lead through the middle of her round but in the end, the victory was by just two.
“Well I had few shots lead, but I’m still try to keep focus on my game because on this golf course with the conditions, nobody know till the end.
“So I tried to keep focused, but green speed was a little bit faster than yesterday so it was a little bit, I tried to little bit just to touch it, but some holes worked, some holes didn’t work. But you can see I’m still holding my trophy so yeah. Well it was not easy but I’m really happy, very much.”
It would however be another eight shots back to Korean amateur Hyojin Yang while Grace Kim and Hannah Green shared the leading Australian honours in 6th place, albeit 11 shots from Shin.
