Bill Johnston
Johnston, circa 1948
Personal information
Full nameClarence William Thompson[1]
Born(1925-01-02)January 2, 1925
Donora, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 23, 2021(2021-04-23) (aged 96)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Sporting nationality United States
Career
CollegeUniversity of Utah[2]
Turned professional1950
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Champions Tour
Professional wins15
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour2
Other13
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentT28: 1957
PGA ChampionshipT3: 1956
U.S. OpenT32: 1963
The Open ChampionshipT26: 1960

Clarence William Johnston (January 2, 1925 – April 23, 2021) was an American golf course architect and professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour.

Johnston was born in Donora, Pennsylvania on January 2, 1925, but moved to Ogden, Utah when he was four years old. Johnston served in the United States Navy.[2] He played college golf at the University of Utah and turned professional in 1950. The biggest win of his playing career was at the 1958 Texas Open Invitational.

Johnston played on the Senior PGA Tour (now PGA Tour Champions) from 1980 to 1990 (full-time) and then a few tournaments a year through the 1990s.

After his days as a touring professional were over, Johnston became a golf course architect. He has designed several well-known courses in Arizona and Texas.[3]

Johnston was inducted into the Utah Golf Hall of Fame in 1994[2] and the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame in 2018.[4][5]

In November 2020, at the age of 95, Johnston was still playing golf three times a week at the Biltmore Links course with his friends. These regular golf partners included amateurs, professionals, and other close acquaintances. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 on December 4, 2020, at the Phoenix Mayo Clinic. He died at his son's house in Idaho, on April 23, 2021, at the age of 96.

Professional wins (15)

PGA Tour wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1 Feb 16, 1958 Texas Open Invitational −10 (69-71-66-68=274) 3 strokes United States Bob Rosburg
2 Sep 12, 1960 Utah Open Invitational −22 (66-67-66-63=262) 2 strokes United States Art Wall Jr.

Other wins (13)

this list may be incomplete

Courses designed

References

  1. Clarence William Johnston in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947
  2. 1 2 3 "Billy Johnston profile". Utah Golf Association. Archived from the original on July 10, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  3. "Bill Johnston courses built". worldgolf.com. Retrieved December 3, 2007.
  4. Livsey, Laury (April 26, 2021). "Two-time Tour winner Bill Johnston dies at age 96". PGA Tour.
  5. Van Sickle, Gary (March 23, 2019). "Bill Johnston: A fading story worth revisiting". Morning Read.
  6. 1 2 "This Wasn't The 1st Time For Johnston And Collins". The Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. August 6, 1989. p. D1.
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