CREATE TABLE table_name_9 (to_par VARCHAR, player VARCHAR, total VARCHAR)

What is total number of the to par of player john mahaffey, who has a total less than 298?
SELECT COUNT(to_par) FROM table_name_9 WHERE player = "john mahaffey" AND total < 298
SELECT COUNT("to_par") FROM "table_name_9" WHERE "john mahaffey" = "player" AND "total" < 298