Johnson signs with Montana golf program
3/1/2024 1:40:00 PM | Golf
Two-time Montana high school state champion Bella Johnson has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join first-year coach Jimmy Mee's Grizzly golf program in the fall as a freshman.
Johnson is a senior at Billings West High.
"The huge upside to Bella is her length," said Mee. "Going from the length they play at Montana high school events, which might be 5,200 yards, to playing at 6,200 yards should not be an issue for Bella.
"That will allow her the opportunity to come and compete right away instead of having the shock of having that extra 1,000 yards. She should be able to handle that.
"If we can do some refining of her short game, she could be an awesome player for us."
Johnson was the Class AA state champion as a sophomore and junior after placing 14th as a freshman. She was the runner-up by two strokes as a senior last fall at Lake Hills Golf Course in Billings.
Johnson won the Class AA title by eight strokes as a junior in Helena, by seven strokes as a sophomore in Bozeman.
"You never know how you're going to do under pressure unless you get under pressure. She's put herself in those positions and has done well," said Mee.
West High won the team title when Johnson was a sophomore and finished second her other three years competing as a Golden Bear.
"I met her when she was nine or 10 when I was a club pro in Billings," said Griz assistant coach Jeff Allen. "She's been long from day one and you can't teach that.
"Out of the Billings kids I knew, she was the one who sought out instruction, who sought out swing coaches. She's been working at it for a very long time."
With fifth-year senior Tricia Joyce departing the program after the spring season, the arrival of Johnson will keep another Montana golfer in the Grizzly program for years to come.
Montana signed Missoula Hellgate's Anna Stensrud to a National Letter of Intent in November.
"We want to keep the best players from Montana in Montana because we do have some really good players," said Mee. "When you have a kid from Montana competing, it keeps that interest in state.
"Bella's been a huge Griz fan, has been to every home football game for who knows how long. It's really cool to get someone like that to come play for us."
Johnson is a senior at Billings West High.
"The huge upside to Bella is her length," said Mee. "Going from the length they play at Montana high school events, which might be 5,200 yards, to playing at 6,200 yards should not be an issue for Bella.
"That will allow her the opportunity to come and compete right away instead of having the shock of having that extra 1,000 yards. She should be able to handle that.
"If we can do some refining of her short game, she could be an awesome player for us."
Johnson was the Class AA state champion as a sophomore and junior after placing 14th as a freshman. She was the runner-up by two strokes as a senior last fall at Lake Hills Golf Course in Billings.
Johnson won the Class AA title by eight strokes as a junior in Helena, by seven strokes as a sophomore in Bozeman.
"You never know how you're going to do under pressure unless you get under pressure. She's put herself in those positions and has done well," said Mee.
West High won the team title when Johnson was a sophomore and finished second her other three years competing as a Golden Bear.
"I met her when she was nine or 10 when I was a club pro in Billings," said Griz assistant coach Jeff Allen. "She's been long from day one and you can't teach that.
"Out of the Billings kids I knew, she was the one who sought out instruction, who sought out swing coaches. She's been working at it for a very long time."
With fifth-year senior Tricia Joyce departing the program after the spring season, the arrival of Johnson will keep another Montana golfer in the Grizzly program for years to come.
Montana signed Missoula Hellgate's Anna Stensrud to a National Letter of Intent in November.
"We want to keep the best players from Montana in Montana because we do have some really good players," said Mee. "When you have a kid from Montana competing, it keeps that interest in state.
"Bella's been a huge Griz fan, has been to every home football game for who knows how long. It's really cool to get someone like that to come play for us."
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