Johnson Cruises to Fifth MPGA Senior Public Links Title

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  OAKDALE, Minn. – An eagle and one birdie during his front nine Sunday at Oak Marsh Golf Course propelled J.T. Johnson to a final-round 67 to win his fifth Minnesota Public Golf Association Senior Public Links Championship.

Entering the final round in a share of the lead with Stuart Finley following Saturday’s 69, Johnson cruised on the final day, sinking a birdie on the final hole to successfully defend his title with a six-stroke victory.

“I just found something. I’m driving the ball really well and my iron game is as good as it’s ever been,” said Johnson, who entered the week coming off a runner-up finish at the Wisconsin State Golf Association Senior Match Play Championship Thursday at Stevens Point Country Club.

“I never used to have an iron game and I recently switched [equipment] and now it clicks. Now when I stand over irons, I’m really confident. I’m pretty relaxed because I know I don’t have to hit it to sand wedge range anymore.”

Despite hitting every green Sunday, Johnson was unable to convert several chances early during the final round before hitting an 8-iron to 18 feet at the seventh, where he’d convert his eagle putt to move to 3-under for the championship.

“I felt the greens out for quite a while before I got anything to go,” he said. “Everything went right—even the ones I read to break left, went right.”

Johnson followed his eagle with a birdie from eight feet at the eighth to turn in 3-under for the round.

In full control during his back nine Sunday, Johnson’s only blemish came at the par-3 15th, leaving a 5-iron well short of the green leading to his lone bogey of the final round.

Johnson’s approach at the last stopped 10 feet from the cup and he would sink one final birdie to shoot a final-round 67, claiming his fifth win in eight seasons.

“Pretty conservative approach today,” Johnson said. “I thought if I could shoot even or 1-under today, I would be really, really close at the end.

“I figured the guys not in our group were going to press a little bit, and this is a course where if you press and pull it off, you can go really low.”

With his win Sunday, Johnson ties Bob Gammon for most wins at the event with five. The 58-year-old Johnson will now set his sights on the 119th Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship beginning Monday at his home course at Olympic Hills Golf Club.

In five previous appearances at the MGA Amateur Championship, Johnson’s previous best finish came in 2015 when he tied for 12th at Northland Country Club.

“I caught lightning in a bottle in 2015 at Northland when I had the lead after the first day,” Johnson said. “I will not have the lead this week, but if I can make the cut at my course, it would be a homerun. I would feel just as good as I do right now.”

Claiming his first MPGA Senior Public Links title in 2014 at Pokegama Golf Club, Johnson would then earn back-to-back victories in 2017 at Monticello Country Club and 2018 at Southern Hills Golf Club.

Johnson sank his birdie putt on the 36th hole of last year’s championship at Eastwood Golf Club to edge Ken Gerzsenyi by one stroke for his fourth win at the championship.

“I’m going to be 59 in two weeks and I feel like I’m 50 again,” Johnson said. “I always looked at [four-time MGA Senior Amateur champion] Jim Lehman and [four-time MGA Senior Player of the Year] Jerry Rose, who are 63 and 64, and they play like they’re 50. Hopefully, I can do this for a few more years.”

Overcoming a rocky start Sunday, 2019 champion Rick Frieburg bounced back from a quadruple-bogey at the fourth by carding an eagle and a birdie over his final three holes to post a second consecutive round of 71 to finish in second at 2-over 142.

Mark Sperling and Jeff Teal each carded rounds of 4-over 74 Sunday to finish tied for third, along with 2009 champion John Anderson at 5-over 145.

Sinking his birdie putt on the second playoff hole Sunday, 2016 champion Scott Hogan edged Gerzsenyi to claim the 65 & Over Division. Hogan posted back-to-back rounds of even par 70, including a birdie on his final hole to force a two-way playoff.



THE 71ST MPGA SENIOR PUBLIC LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
OAK MARSH GOLF COURSE
OAKDALE, MINN.
6,179 YARDS, PAR 70


SUNDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. J.T. Johnson, New Richmond GC, 69-67—136
2. Richard Frieburg, Monticello CC, 71-71—142
T3. Mark Sperling, Willinger’s GC, 71-74—145
T3. Jeff Teal, Island View GC, 71-74—145
T3. John Anderson, Bunker Hills GC, 70-75—145
T3. Paul Schubring, Dwan GC, 70-75—145
T7. Keith Erickson, River Oaks GC, 74-72—146
T7. Stuart Finley, Bunker Hills GC, 69-77—146
T9. Larry Keithahn, Hiawatha GC, 73-74—147
T9. Randy Jacobus, Baker Nat’l GC, 71-76—147


For complete tournament results go to: www.golfgenius.com/pages/8633039574366443622