Mack GordonThe Ole Miss Women’s Golf team wrapped up the fall portion of its 2018-2019 schedule earlier this week as the Rebels competed in the Jim West Challenge in San Marcos, Texas. The Rebels finished with a three round total of 865(+1) to finish fifth overall as a team. Pi-Lillebi Hermansson and Julia Johnson were the Rebels top overall finishers, both placing T16.
Ole Miss opened with a solid first round 287(-1). The Rebels were led by Hermansson and Connor Beth Ball, who both shot an opening round 70(-2). Julia Johnson also had a solid opening 18 with a 71(-1).
The Rebels followed up their solid first round performance with a similar showing in the second round, shooting a team total of 288(E) to stay in contention. Hermansson and Johnson set the mark in round two, each shooting a 70(-2). Kie Purdom bounced back from an opening round 77 by shooting a 71(-1) in the second round.
Ole Miss closed out the tournament with a final round 290(+2) to finish in fifth place in the 15 team field. Connor Beth Ball and Ellen Hutchinson-Kay led the Rebels in the final round, shooting a 71(-1) and 70(-2) respectively. Hutchinson-Kay’s 70(-2) in the final round set a new career best for the freshman.
Johnson ended her final round with an exclamation mark, recording a hole-in-one on the 72nd and final hole of the tournament.
“It felt so good to end the fall season in that way,” Johnson told olemisssports.com following her dramatic hole-in-one. “After an off day, I’m glad I could put a good swing on the ball.”
Assistant coach Drew Belt was impressed with Johnson’s hole-in-one after the tournament, but he reiterated how much work the team needs to complete before the spring season begins.
“We’re pleased with how we finished, but we still have a lot of work to do before our championship season in the spring,” Belt told olemisssports.com. “With our hole-in-one from Julia, it will be a great flight back to Oxford.”
Ole Miss will return to action Feb. 25 when they compete in the Bruin Wave Invitational.
