Jeremy Johnson
The 43-year-old finished fifth out of 30 men at the Lone Star Classic, an AFGL 250 event Johnson dubbed a mid-major. Majors are 500 events.
Johnson carded a two-day total of 143 after shooting a 3-over-par 70 on Day 1 followed by a 6-over 73 on Day 2 at Mount Pleasant Country Club.
He finished six shots behind winner Nathan Shuey of Maryland.
Johnson, of Palmer High fame, felt like he could have done better if not for a thunder storm that forced a 45-minute delay at the end of his final round.
He had four holes to play before the weather changed conditions on the course.
“There was water everywhere,” Johnson told me. “We finished with puddles all over the course.”
He was unhappy tournament officials made his group go back on the course immediately after the delay while allowing other groups were allowed to wait almost an hour later. The soccer ball doesn’t travel as well in wet conditions, so Johnson believed the other groups had an advantage on a dry course.
“I was right in the mix for the win,” said Johnson, who finished +3 on the final four holes.
“But that’s how it goes. I felt like I could have been top three.”
Nonetheless, Johnson will take another top-10 finish, his sixth of the summer.
“It really helped me with qualifying for the World Cup team, which is what I’m going for,” he said.
He now is ranked No. 10 nationally, up four spots from a fortnight ago.