The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Feeling Confident Ahead of 3M Augusta Invitational
3/16/2017 | Women's Golf
AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Ole Miss women's golf team is in the mecca of golf this week for the 3M Augusta Invitational.
Head coach Kory Henkes is back in her old stomping grounds, Forest Hills Golf Club, to lead the Rebels into action against her former school, Augusta University, and a dozen other tough squads in the most famous town in golf.
"We're back at the tournament I used to run. I have mixed feelings about it. It's kind of weird being back, but at the same time it's awesome," Henkes said. "It's great to see so many familiar faces. I'm really feeling the love around here. The girls are excited. They were like, 'Man, we're really getting the royal treatment this week.' I think they're having a great time and realizing how cool Augusta, Georgia is for the game of golf."
Two-Coach Homecoming
Assistant coach Drew Belt also returned to his former stomping grounds this week. The Rebels left for Augusta a day early to squeeze in a round at West Lake Country Club, where Belt served as head pro before joining Henkes in Oxford.
After that, it was on to another premier course in Augusta, just the next stop in what has already been a fun road trip for the Rebels.
"The last few days here in Augusta have been amazing. Augusta really is such a special place, especially for golf. Everyone here is so nice and so accommodating and everything is really golf-oriented in this town, so we're really having a blast here," Henkes said. "The girls really loved West Lake. We had a lot of fun. And yesterday we got to play Augusta Country Club, which is one of the premier clubs in Augusta, Georgia. It was freezing out, but we had a great time."
Rebels on the Rise
In addition to the positive momentum from a fun week, Ole Miss is playing its best golf of the spring going into this tournament.
The Rebels have improved their team score in each tournament this spring, most recently the squad's first sub-900 event since the fall, and just their third tournament this year with three rounds under 300.
That success has played into some outstanding performances by Ole Miss during this week's practice round, giving the team confidence going into Friday.
"We had a great practice round today," Henkes said. "The girls played really well yesterday. I think Madisen Bentley had six birdies. Katy Harris had several birdies. Today was one of the better practice rounds we've had this year. A lot of it has to do with Coach Drew and I knowing this course so well, but we're looking forward to this weekend. I think it's going to be a good week. You just have to hit the ball in the right spot on these greens, because they can be very tricky. If not, they're very fast and they're very undulating. If you can hit the ball in the right spot, you can have a good week. We're excited to be here and looking forward to a great week."
Ole Miss will be among the final five groups to tee off from the first hole around 10 a.m. CT on Friday. The Rebels will be paired with Virginia Tech and Columbia.
Course Snapshot
Forest Hills Golf Club
Augusta, Georgia
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,248
Ole Miss Lineup
1. Madisen Bentley, Senior
2. Katy Harris, Junior
3. Martina Flori, Sophomore
4. Kie Purdom, Sophomore
5. Pi-Lillebi Hermansson, Freshman
The Field
No. 45 Augusta
Coastal Carolina
Columbia
Daytona State
Eastern Michigan
East Tennessee State
James Madison
Kennesaw State
Memphis
Ole Miss
No. 23 Purdue
No. 33 Tennessee
Troy
Virginia Tech
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.
