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Tony Johnstone moves two clear in Jersey

Tony Johnstone’s remarkable recovery from a career threatening condition continues to follow an inspirational script as he moved two shots clear of the field going into the final round of the Jersey Seniors Classic.

The 52 year old, who also works as an analyst for Sky Sports in the winter, was told he would never play the sport again after he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2004.

But after undergoing a revolutionary drug treatment, the defiant Zimbabwean joined the European Seniors Tour on his 50th birthday in 2006.

After re-learning parts of his game affected by the debilitating condition, including completely overhauling his putting technique, Johnstone has slowly rediscovered the form that saw him land six European Tour titles.

Now he is on the verge of a victory he admits would be a personal triumph, sitting on top of the leaderboard for the first time since he landed the Qatar Masters in 2001.

He shot a two under par round of 70 in breezy conditions at La Moye Golf Club to move to five under par for the tournament, two strokes clear of American Steve Stull with just 18 holes to play.

Johnstone said: “I honestly think that in terms of personal satisfaction if I could win here after what I have been through it would be victory that I would remember most of all.

“It would feel like I have beaten the odds after coming back from MS. Four years ago I thought I would never play again but I’ve always been an awkward bugger and I never gave up. This would mean everything to me to win here. It really would be a dream come true.

“My putting was really good again today. I lost my co-ordination completely with the MS – my left and right hands didn’t know what was going on. It took me two years to find a method of putting that works for me. Now I just putt with my left hand, which is tough for a right hander, but it seems to be working.

“I’m feeling confident again out there and it’s nice just to be at the top of the leaderboard again. It’s been seven years since I’ve been there and it feels so sweet.”

Johnstone’s putting prowess was certainly in evidence out on the La Moye course when he holed a from 40ft and then 15ft for birdies on the seventh and eighth, two of his last three holes after starting his round on the tenth.

Stull carded a superb four under par 68 in the Channel Islands to move to three under par, with England’s Bob Cameron two strokes further adrift.

June 7, 2008