Iowa native Zach Johnson captures Principal Charity Classic title at 17-under in tournament debut

POWERED BY CARL’S AUTO GROUP. IT IS VICTORY FOR IOWA’S OWN ZACH JOHNSON. IN HIS FIRST APPEARANCE AT THE PRINCIPAL CHARITY CLASSIC, JOHNSON CAME INTO TODAY WITH A SHARE OF THE LEAD. THEN HE LEFT. ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT. KCCI SHANNON EHRHARDT JOINS US LIVE NOW FROM WAKONDA CLUB IN DES MOINES. SHANNON, YOU ARE RIGHT THERE ON 18 WHEN ZACH FINISHED HIS ROUND, WHERE WERE THOSE SCENES LIKE? AND ZACH IS ACTUALLY STILL ON 18 AFTER THE ROUND, AFTER THE CELEBRATIONS. NOT SURE IF YOU CAN SEE HIM BEHIND ME, BUT HE’S WITH HIS IOWA FAMILY. HE TELLS ME HIS FAMILY FROM GEORGIA IS NOT HERE, BUT HE COULD NOT BE MORE ECSTATIC TO BE IN IOWA. AND HE SAID OFF THE FIRST TEE BOX, THEY ALWAYS ANNOUNCE ZACH JOHNSON FROM IOWA, WHICH IS SO SPECIAL FOR HIM TO WIN HERE. HE HAD A VERY COMFORTABLE LEAD HEADING INTO THE 18TH HOLE. HE WAS ACTUALLY TWO STROKES AHEAD WITH THREE HOLES LEFT TO GO, AND HE SAID HE JUST NEEDED TO KEEP HIS EMOTIONS IN CHECK. OF COURSE, AFTER HE FINISHED THAT, HE WAS ABLE TO KIND OF LET LOOSE AND ENJOY THE MOMENT WITH ALL OF THE FANS, HE SAID. HE’S HAPPY TO BE HERE AND HAPPY TO PLAY IN THIS. HE. THIS IS HIS FIRST TIME PLAYING IN THE PRINCIPAL CHARITY CLASSIC BECAUSE, OF COURSE, HE TURNED 50 THIS YEAR. IN HIS FIRST ATTEMPT. HE GETS IT DONE. HE’S JUST THE FOURTH PERSON EVER TO WIN IN THEIR VERY FIRST ATTEMPT AT THE PRINCIPAL CHARITY CLASSIC, HE HAD SEVEN BIRDIES AND TWO BOGEYS. HE FINISHED 18 UNDER, 17 UNDER, THAT IS, AND HE WAS FOUR SHOTS UP FROM THE FIELD. SO HE REALLY DIDN’T HAVE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HIM COMING INTO THIS ONE. HE DID TALK ABOUT HIS EMOTIONS THOUGH, AND HE SAID THAT HE TRIES TO KEEP HIS EMOTIONS IN CHECK. BUT THIS TOURNAMENT OF COURSE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT. HE SAID HE RELIED ON HIS CADDIE FOR A LOT OF THAT. HE HAD A ROUGH FIRST DAY, IN HIS WORDS, AND OF COURSE HE PULLED THROUGH IN THE SECOND. AND OF COURSE, THE FINAL ROUND TODAY. HERE HE IS AFTER THE VICTORY, PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE SAID IT WEDNESDAY. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I TEED OFF YET, RIGHT. BUT I KIND OF FELT LIKE I WON. CERTAINLY FELT LIKE I WON BEFORE I EVEN PLAYED TODAY. I ALMOST FELT LIKE I WON BEFORE THE WEEK STARTED. I MEAN, IF YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO IN THIS STATE, IN THIS TOWN, ON THIS GOLF COURSE, I MEAN, EVERYTHING AFTER, THAT’S JUST KIND OF ICING ON THE CAKE. AND THAT GIVES YOU A LOT OF PEACE. IT GIVES YOU A LOT OF FREEDOM. AND IN THIS SPORT, FREEDOM IS GREAT. I DID ASK WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO TO CELEBRATE, AND HE SAID HE HAS SOME THINGS PLANNED. OF COURSE, HE GRADUATED FROM DRAKE UNIVERSITY. HE LIVED IN IOWA FOR FOUR YEARS, SO HE SAID HE PLANS TO MEET UP WITH THOSE ALUMNI. CONGRATULATIONS TO ZACH JOHNSON. IT’S PRETTY WILD THAT HE WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE FEEL GOOD STORY. THE HOMETOWN KID GETTING IT DONE HERE AT THE PRINCIPAL CHARITY CLASSIC. AND IT’S ONLY THE BEGINNING. I AM LIVE FROM WAKONDA CLUB. SHANNON EHRHARDT, KCCI IOWA SPORTS LEADER. WELL, THE FINAL LEADERBOARD MIGHT NOT SHOW IT, BUT THIS ONE WAS CLOSE FOR MUCH OF THE DAY. JOHNSON GOT A LITTLE HELP WITH SOME KEY MISSES FROM OTHER GOLFERS ON THE BACK.

Iowa native Zach Johnson captures Principal Charity Classic title at 17-under in tournament debut

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Updated: 6:35 PM CDT Jun 14, 2026

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In his first appearance at the Principal Charity Classic, Iowan Zach Johnson posted a final round 5-under 67 to win. Johnson worked around bogeys on the first and 14th holes and sank six birdie putts Sunday. Johnson finished 17-under in the three-round tournament, winning by four strokes. Johnson got an ovation as he walked onto the 18th green after getting out of the bunker to set up a birdie putt.Richard Green (68) and Retief Goosen (70) tied for second. David Bransdon (71) and Brett Quigley (72) were 12 under.WATCH: Zach Johnson wins 2026 Principal Charity Classic in Des MoinesDay 2 of the Principal Charity Classic saw Johnson card a 9-under-par 63 and jump to the top of the leaderboard. Johnson, the Iowa native and former Drake golfer, was 12-under for the tournament, tied for the lead with Brett Quigley and Scott Hend after the second day. Johnson finished 3-under-par Friday in his debut at the Principal Charity Classic. Johnson, an Iowa native and former Drake golfer, was tied for 22nd heading into Day 2 at Wakonda Club in Des Moines. More Principal Charity Classic coveragePrincipal Charity Classic: Wakonda Club showcases challenging holes and dramatic elevationsPrincipal Charity Classic: Agronomists use science to prepare greens at Wakonda ClubPrincipal Charity Classic: Daisy May helps keep wildlife off Wakonda Club’s golf courseNorwalk boy to receive adaptive bike at Principal Charity ClassicPrincipal Charity Classic: Zach Johnson’s favorite sandwich honored at Des Moines deliWATCH: 1-on-1 with Zach JohnsonPCC Champions through the years2026: Zach Johnson2025: Miguel Angel Jiménez2024: Ernie Els2023: Stephen Ames2022: Jerry Kelly2021: Stephen Ames2020: Tournament canceled due to COVID-192019: Kevin Sutherland2018: Tom Lehman2017: Brandt Jobe2016: Scott McCarron2015: Mark Calcavecchia2014: Tom Pernice Jr.2013: Russ Cochran2012: Jay Haas2011: Bob Gilder2010: Nick Price2009: Mark McNulty2008: Jay Haas2007: Jay Haas» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

DES MOINES, Iowa —

In his first appearance at the Principal Charity Classic, Iowan Zach Johnson posted a final round 5-under 67 to win. Johnson worked around bogeys on the first and 14th holes and sank six birdie putts Sunday.

Johnson finished 17-under in the three-round tournament, winning by four strokes. Johnson got an ovation as he walked onto the 18th green after getting out of the bunker to set up a birdie putt.

Richard Green (68) and Retief Goosen (70) tied for second. David Bransdon (71) and Brett Quigley (72) were 12 under.

WATCH: Zach Johnson wins 2026 Principal Charity Classic in Des Moines

Day 2 of the Principal Charity Classic saw Johnson card a 9-under-par 63 and jump to the top of the leaderboard. Johnson, the Iowa native and former Drake golfer, was 12-under for the tournament, tied for the lead with Brett Quigley and Scott Hend after the second day.

Johnson finished 3-under-par Friday in his debut at the Principal Charity Classic. Johnson, an Iowa native and former Drake golfer, was tied for 22nd heading into Day 2 at Wakonda Club in Des Moines.

More Principal Charity Classic coveragePrincipal Charity Classic: Wakonda Club showcases challenging holes and dramatic elevationsPrincipal Charity Classic: Agronomists use science to prepare greens at Wakonda ClubPrincipal Charity Classic: Daisy May helps keep wildlife off Wakonda Club’s golf courseNorwalk boy to receive adaptive bike at Principal Charity ClassicPrincipal Charity Classic: Zach Johnson’s favorite sandwich honored at Des Moines deli

WATCH: 1-on-1 with Zach Johnson

PCC Champions through the years

  • 2026: Zach Johnson
  • 2025: Miguel Angel Jiménez
  • 2024: Ernie Els
  • 2023: Stephen Ames
  • 2022: Jerry Kelly
  • 2021: Stephen Ames
  • 2020: Tournament canceled due to COVID-19
  • 2019: Kevin Sutherland
  • 2018: Tom Lehman
  • 2017: Brandt Jobe
  • 2016: Scott McCarron
  • 2015: Mark Calcavecchia
  • 2014: Tom Pernice Jr.
  • 2013: Russ Cochran
  • 2012: Jay Haas
  • 2011: Bob Gilder
  • 2010: Nick Price
  • 2009: Mark McNulty
  • 2008: Jay Haas
  • 2007: Jay Haas

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