Ole Miss women’s golf earns 1st-ever NCAA Championship berth after regional finish

For the second consecutive season on the links, Ole Miss has rewritten the record books. This time it was the women’s team that earned their first championship berth in program history.

After a sluggish day that had the Rebels in 8th place after the one round, the Ladylinksharks fired back-to-back days under par to finish 3rd overall. Kory Henkes’ team also finished the San Francisco Regional at 1-under par, led by freshman phenom Julia Johnson. The SEC Freshman of the Year shot a 5-under 67 on the tournament’s final day to lead the Rebs.

Braden Thornberry, you’ve been put on notice, fam.

In just her third season in Oxford, Henkes took over for a program with back-to-back last place finishes in the SEC and has them in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013.

Check that again.

Yes, it only took her three years to get here.

And things are just getting started. The Rebs start three underclassmen--all three were top finishers in the regional round.

Julia Johnson also recorded the first top-5 individual finish in school history, besting the previous best finish (18th) by plenty. She also set the record for most rounds under par in a season. Oh, and she finished ahead of three players in the top five of the World Amateur Golf Rankings. She now has five top-5 finishes to add to her two medals on the season. Not bad for someone in high school a year ago.

Hoping to add to their historic season, the good gals will travel to Stillwater, Okla., May 18-23 for the NCAA Championships. The Rebs will play 72 holes, with a cut down to 15 teams after 54. Afterwards, the top eight teams will be seeded and put in a match play format. If the Johnson, Harris, and Ball, LLC make it to match play, you can find them live on Golf Channel.

Go get that bag, ladies.