Joey Johnson, an Ozark native who was one of the top golf amateurs in Missouri more than a decade ago before going on to play at Missouri State, will receive an unrestricted sponsor’s exemption from the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper.
Tournament Executive Director Byron Shive surprised Johnson with the news recently, welcoming Johnson while family and friends stood nearby at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
The PCCC is set for July 18-21 at Highland Springs Country Club, meaning Johnson will compete against Korn Ferry Tour players seeking a route to the PGA TOUR.
“We are very excited to award Joey Johnson an unrestricted exemption into the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper,” Shive said. “Joey is one of the top golfers in Missouri Amateur history and has also excelled at the collegiate level. He is the ideal candidate to receive an unrestricted exemption into the field, and we look forward to watching Joey go head-to-head with the Korn Ferry Tour’s best right here at Highland Springs Country Club.”
The 30-year-old Johnson, who works for Clear Creak Golf Car, was 21-3 in the Missouri Amateur, including 17 consecutive victories. His winning percentage of .875 is third to Walter Blevins’ 10-1 and Tom Watson’s 27-3 all-time. In that event, he was the 2013 champion at Blue Hills Country Club, the 2014 champion at Norwood Hills Country Club and the 2015 runner-up at Buffalo Ridge Golf Course.
At Missouri State (2012-2016), he ranks 10th in program history for career scoring average (74.4) fourth in program history for freshman scoring average and was a four-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week. He also was a two-time Valley All-Conference Team selection (2013, 2015).
Before entering Missouri State, Johnson was the fifth-rated senior in Missouri, according to the National Junior Golf Scoreboard. He won the William Jewell College and Blue Ridge Christian Invitationals as a senior for Christ Prep Academy in Kansas City. He also was a quarterfinalist at the Missouri Junior Match Play in 2010 and 2011, while finishing second and fourth, respectively, at the 2010 and 2011 Missouri Junior Amateur. He also placed fifth at the AJGA Bass Pro/Payne Stewart Junior Championship in 2011.
“It’s pretty special,” Johnson said of the exemption. “When I was playing competitive golf, this was a huge dream of mine. To have it happen a couple of years later, it’s pretty awesome.”
Johnson has played at Highland Springs in recent years and grew up watching the Price Cutter tournament.
“It was fun to watch all the guys shoot crazy low,” Johnson said. “It’ll be a lot of fun, first and foremost. I think my goal will be to go out and play my best golf and see what happens from there.”