Ryggs Johnston made four consecutive birdies from the 4th and signed for a 4-under 68 at Kingston Heath, in spite of a double bogey at the par-5 14th, to move into a share of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open lead at 14-under.
The American, a Qualifying School graduate, is playing in just his second DP World Tour title following last week’s BMW Australian PGA Championship where he finished T43.
“For a while now I’ve been in pretty high pressure situations trying to get my card through Q-School,” said Johnston.
“That final round is one of the most pressured. I mean, it’s a different type of pressure there and I did pretty well. So I just try to take that with me and use it as something we’ll look back on to kind of tell myself that, ‘hey there, a lot of people watch it and a lot of pressure, but you can still do this’.
“I think I’ve gotten a little lucky this week. It’s being raining so much and kind of playing softer that it plays to more of the golf that we’re used to back in the States, which is nice. Especially, I’ve never been to Australia and played golf here. So definitely it’s probably working in my favour a little bit for that because it kind of makes it a new course for everyone.
“It would be huge for me to win for my career. But yeah, I’m trying to keep as much pressure off myself as I can. So just trying to go out there and just play good golf and whatever happens, happens.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve won a golf tournament. I’ll try to use it as much of a learning experience as I can and hopefully it works out my way. But if not, I want to stay in it for all 18 holes and give myself a chance.”
Australian Lucas Herbert who held the 18- and 36-hole lead made just one birdie and one bogey for a 72 and retains a share of the lead.
Australia’s Elvis Smylie who won last week in Melbourne made six birdies, a bogey and a double bogey at the par-4 9th to close with a 69 and a share of third place at 12 under alongside compatriot Jasper Stubbs and China’s Wenyi Ding who both shot 68s.
Also tied for third place are Finland’s Oliver Lindell who stayed bogey-free for a 69 and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann who eagled the par-5 first hole but also made a bogey.
