Official Publication of the 98th Annual Resorters Golf Tournament • Echo Press
Friday, August 2, 2019
FREE •
VOL. 82, NO. 4
PLENTY TO SMILE ABOUT Resorters week for Johnson includes qualifying for U.S. Senior Amateur By Eric Morken emorken@echopress.com he Resorters Golf Tournament is a week-long vacation for many who participate in this event. It’s about playing competitive golf, yes. But it’s also about socializing with friends and family. The day off between qualifying and when match play starts for those in the Men’s Executive Division is a good time to do just that. Relax. Maybe have a few drinks and hang out on one of the many lakes Alexandria has to offer. For Eden Prairie’s JT Johnson, there was no relaxing on his day off. Instead, he used Tuesday to travel to Waconia and play in another tournament — one that ended up qualifying him for the U.S. Senior Amateur at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C. Aug. 24-29. “It’s not that long of a drive,” Johnson said from the Alexandria Golf Club on Thursday morning. “Two years ago, we moved to the west side of the Cities, so it’s a lot closer. Alexandria is such a special place. It wouldn’t matter to me if it was a five-hour drive. I would do whatever it takes to be here, but I didn’t want to give up an opportunity.” Johnson, who will be 56 next week, said he feels like he can be competitive in national amateur events at the senior level right now, so missing that qualifier in Waconia was not an option. He thought he might have to
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Left: Eden Prairie’s JT Johnson (right) shares a laugh with John Nemec of Waite Park during their Executive Division match on Thursday. Johnson qualified as the third seed in the division on Monday before going to Waconia on Tuesday where he won a qualifier for the U.S. Senior Amateur later this month. Now, he’s continued his week with a run into the quarterfinals at the Resorters. Below: JT Johnson lines up his putt on the fourth green at AGC on Thursday. Johnson won his match in the Executive Division to move into the quarterfinals on Friday. Photos by Eric Morken / Echo Press
I was very, very fortunate to just finally find something in my putting game. I went two months and it was agony. I said to my wife, ‘I may never be a good player again.’ I went to an instructor and found myself hitting the ball better than I ever have in my life, but could not get the ball in the hole from three feet. JT JOHNSON, on turning around his game miss the Resorters. Johnson has played in the Senior Division and the Executive Division the last
handful of years. The last two summers, he played with the seniors, and that
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