He heard his name announced at the No. 1 tee box just like all of the other pro golfers on the Korn Ferry Tour and tried his best to tamp down the nerves.
Hours later, Ozark resident Joey Johnson was still smiling, despite what was an understandable learning experience for a still-young golfer.
“Coming into an extremely competitive golf tournament – and I hadn’t played much competitive golf in a couple of years – I knew that was going to be tough, and thought I was going to handle it a little better,” Johnson said Thursday after playing in the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper.
A two-time Missouri Amateur champion playing on an unrestricted sponsor’s exemption, Johnson carded an 8-over par 79 at Highland Springs Country Club.
He birdied two holes, Nos. 2 and 18, and was even par on eight. Unfortunately, the nervous energy of playing in a tournament – one that has produced numerous PGA TOUR players, some who have won majors – was a challenge.
The former Missouri State standout was in a three-person mid-morning pairing that included Grant Hirshman, a Memphis, Tenn., native who helped 2020 PCCC champion Max McGreevy win a national title at the University of Oklahoma a few years ago.
“It was awesome to have family and friends out watching,” Johnson said. “Obviously I didn’t have my best stuff, to be honest, but I expected to settle in a lot earlier.”
Fortunately, Johnson will have Friday to show what he learned from Thursday, with the cut to be announced following play late Friday.
“Experience,” is what Johnson said he learned will help from his Thursday round. “Nerves off the first few holes were more than I expected.”
At the least for Johnson, he can say he has played in a Korn Ferry Tour event, and did so with family and friends looking on, including several from his work, Clear Creek Golf Carts in Ozark.
Hitt is the morning leader
The tournament’s early leader is Hitt, who played a bogey-free round of 10-under par 62.
Hitt dropped in 10 birdies, which covered holes 1, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 18.
The birdies on the back nine were notable because those who play Highland Springs sense they are some of the more challenging parts of the course from tee to green.
The performance came after a month of seeing improvement following a slow start. Plus, Highland Springs was kind of familiar territory for him.
“I started off with a real squirrely tee shot off the first, but chipped in,” Hitt said. “You know you have to go low (scores), but this (tournament) was the only one I had played previously before this season, so I was looking forward to it.”
Coming up
Free tickets are available at OakStar Bank for Friday’s round. That’s the location near Battlefield Road and National Avenue in southeast Springfield.
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day, with Gov. Mike Parson and Vietnam and Gulf War veteran Greg McManus hitting ceremonial tee shots off the No. 1 tee box.
Sunday is Go Blue For Autism Championship Sunday, with The Arc of the Ozarks the presenting charity.