CREATE TABLE table_62504 ("Player" TEXT, "Country" TEXT, "Year ( s )  won" TEXT, "Total" FLOAT, "To par" FLOAT, "Finish" TEXT)

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_62504 WHERE "Player" = 'john mahaffey' AND "Total" < '298'
SELECT COUNT("To par") FROM "table_62504" WHERE "Player" = 'john mahaffey' AND "Total" < '298'