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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Round 2
Ole Miss Extends Lead Entering Round 3 at Old Waverly
10/2/2017 | Women's Golf
WEST POINT, Miss. – The Ole Miss women’s golf team extended its lead to 12 strokes going into the final round of the Magnolia Invitational.
The co-host Rebels were led once again by freshman Julia Johnson. The St. Gabriel, Louisiana, native shot 3-under and holds a two-stroke lead with 18 holes to play. Johnson’s performance helped the Rebels finish at 1-over (289) on the day, 12 strokes ahead of second-place Tennessee and 13 in front of third-place Memphis.
“I’m really proud of how our team has been playing,” said head coach Kory Henkes. “We definitely challenge them each and every day at practice and we can see the hard work starting to pay off.”
Johnson birdied three of her first four holes, as well as the par-5 ninth to make the turn at 2-under. She went bogey-free on the back nine, which was highlighted by a terrific chip from the rough to save par on 12 and a 25-foot birdie putt on 13. She holds a two-stroke edge over LSU’s Kathleen Gallagher going into the final day.
“Julia has been outstanding,” Henkes said. “She is a great ball striker and her irons have been a strong point for her. She really knows how to keep herself in the right frame of mind on the golf course and be her own best cheerleader.”
Sophomore Pi-Lillebi Hermansson came through with a clutch performance on the back nine. The Djursholm, Sweden, native strung together three straight birdies twice on the day, first on holes 9-11 and again on 15-17. The second three-birdie stretch was key in a tough back nine for Ole Miss. An outstanding approach shot set her up for birdie on the 16th, and she sunk a tough putt on the par-3 17th for her seventh birdie of the day.
Hermansson’s 3-under back nine was the team’s best, while junior Kie Purdom posted the team’s best front-nine effort. The Lexington, Kentucky, native opened the day with three straight birdies and drained 20-footer on the sixth hole
Some trouble on the back nine left Purdom at 3-over (75). Freshman Conner Beth Ball matched that score, and the two are part of a seven-way tie for sixth at even par through 36 holes.
Junior Katy Harris led the Ole Miss individuals at 2-over (74). The St. Simons Island, Georgia, native carded three birdies, going back-to-back on 15 and 16. She’s tied for 32nd, one stroke behind freshman Macy Holliday, who went 1-under on the back nine for a 5-over (77) round.
The Rebels recorded the second-lowest two-round total in school history. Despite the solid second round at their home tournament, they were eager to hit the putting greens afterward, hoping to go low on the final day.
“I think it’s great to see our team disappointed after shooting a round of 1-over,” Henkes said. “It shows that they care and have high expectations for not only themselves but their teammates as well. We had a nice practice session after the round and look forward to teeing it up tomorrow.”
The field will tee off in a shotgun start at 8 a.m. CT tomorrow.
Results 
| Live Scoring | Live Tweeting
The Rebels
1. Julia Johnson: 68-69--137 (-7)
T6. Conner Beth Ball: 69-75--144 (E)
T6. Kie Purdom: 69-75--144 (E)
T21. Pi-Lillebi Hermansson: 78-70--148 (+4)
T26. Diane Lim: 72-77--149 (+5)
Individuals
31. Macy Holliday: 73-77--150 (+6)
T32. Katy Harris: 77-74--151 (+7)
T46. Laura Hoskin: 77-78--155 (+11)
T56. Martina Flori: 77-80--157 (+13)
The Field
1. Ole Miss: 278-289--567 (-9)
2. Tennessee: 287-292--579 (+3)
3. Memphis: 291-289--580 (+4)
4. Mississippi State: 296-287--583 (+7)
5. Auburn: 291-294--585 (+9)
T6: LSU: 301-293--594 (+18)
T6. Southern Miss: 303-291--594 (+18)
8. Kansas State: 301-298--599 (+23)
9. Augusta: 307-296--603 (+27)
10. Troy: 321-294--615 (+39)
For all Ole Miss women’s golf news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWGolf and Facebook at Ole Miss Women’s Golf.
