Johnston leads Amateur Championship
By Jacob Meikel
St. Joseph native and Missouri Western Griffon Jeffrey Johnston is currently tied for the lead through round one in the Missouri Amateur Golf Championship at St. Joseph Country Club.
Johnston shot -8 for the first round of stroke play on Tuesday, tying him for the top spot with Kevin Kring of Springfield.
The former Bishop LeBlond Golden Eagle golfer will compete again on Wednesday amongst over 140 of the best male golfers in the state of Missouri. After another 18 holes of stroke play on Wednesday, the field will cut down to 64 players.
Johnston isn’t the only St. Joseph native competing in the tournament. Brad Nurski, former Missouri Western Griffon and Benton graduate, is also in the field for the tournament. Nurski is no stranger to the Missouri Amateur Golf Championship, as he has won the tournament on three separate occasions, including in 2017 when St. Joseph Country Club last hosted the tournament. Nurski hopes to continue play into the latter half of the week, and is currently tied for 29th after the first round on Tuesday by shooting an even par on the day.
“It’s always nice to be home and you get to sleep in your own bed. Then the golf course is in great shape and just ready for, hopefully, a long week,” Nurski said.
Among other St. Joseph golfers competing in the tournament this week are Timothy Johnston, the brother of Jeffrey Johnston and who is tied for 29th on the leaderboard through one round, Sam Schoeberl, Erin Hatcher, Harry Roberts, Jake Mikesch, Preston Taylor and Caleb Carter.
