61 in Cabo: Johnson ties record to win Battle of the Beach
03 Nov 2019
see also: Julia Johnson Rankings
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The No. 13 Ole Miss women's golf team continued its historic fall season by winning the Battle at the Beach on Sunday for the third team title of the fall.
Julia Johnson took home medalist honors after shooting an 11-under 61 on Sunday for her third win of her career.
Johnson's final round 61, a course record at Club Campestre San Jose, tied the NCAA record for lowest individual round, which has only been done three times, last by Gonzaga's Bianca Pagdanganan in 2017.
The Rebels fired an 11-under 277 on Sunday, the third-lowest single round total in program history, to take home the title by seven strokes ahead of No. 19 LSU. Ole Miss was the only team in the field of 16 to go under par for the tournament, and their 54-hole score of 7-under 857 (302-278-277) was good for the sixth lowest 54-hole total in program history.
"Today was an incredible day for our entire team and for Julia," head coach Kory Henkes said. "It was a great way to finish our fall season with our whole team playing in Cabo and capping it off with a team and individual win."
Johnson started the final 18 with an eagle and four birdies, quickly jumping to the top of the leaderboard. She added six birdies on her last 14 holes to turn in a bogey-free 11-under. She led the field in birdies with 18 and went under par on the par 3s (-1), par 4s (-4), and par 5s (-8).
"Julia played the best round of golf Coach Zack and I have ever had the pleasure to watch," Henkes said. "Her ability to tie an NCAA record for the lowest round of golf in NCAA history is a monumental accomplishment and we are so proud of her."
This marks Johnson's third individual win of her career, last coming at the Rebel Beach Invitational during the 2017-18 season. Her three-round total of 13-under 203 (73-69-61) set a new program record for lowest 54-hole score by two strokes. Johnson went par-or-better in 12 of her 15 rounds this fall.
"Today was just really special," Johnson said. "I try and do things the right way when we're at home. I practice 100 percent every time I'm out there and to see it finally starting to pay off again is really nice. Having coach Zack by my side today was really important, and I'm super thankful for everything he and Coach Kory do for me."
Thanks to Ole Miss Women's Golf for this report.