Martina Flori’s final round propels her to second place at Cardinal Cup

Posted on Oct 23 2018 - 5:50am by Mack Gordon

The Ole Miss Women’s Golf team traveled to Louisville this past weekend to play in the Cardinal Cup at the University of Louisville Golf Course. The Rebels finished 6th in the tournament, with a three round total of 907(+43). Martina Flori was Ole Miss’ top performer, placing T2 after shooting 216(E), including an electric final round 65(-7).

The Rebels battled tough conditions during the first two rounds on day one, with winds gusting near 50 mph, leading to higher scores throughout the field.

“It was a tough day for the girls,” assistant coach Drew Belt told olemisssports.com following day one. “The wind was unlike anything they have seen so far in their careers, 45 mph wind is something that Coach Henkes and I can’t simulate in Oxford, Mississippi.”

Julia Johnson had one of the best rounds in the field during the first round, shooting an even par 72. Johnson backed it up with a hard fought 77(+5) in the second round, placing her in 13th place heading into Sunday’s final round.

Flori and Ellen Hutchison Kay were in T15th place heading into the final round on Sunday after each shooting a two round total of 152(+7) on day one.

As a team, the Rebels were in 5th place heading into day two after battling through the challenging conditions.

“We got off to a bad start, but we fought back,” Belt said. “The theme (Sunday) is going to be about bouncing back and believing they are better than today, we will fight hard and see what happens.”

The Ole Miss team saved its best round of the tournament for Sunday, shooting a final round 294(+6). Flori led the Rebels with a final round 65(-7), skyrocketing her up the leaderboard into a T2nd finish. Johnson shot a final round 71(-1) to finish the tournament in T8th. Pi-Lillebi Hermansson had her best round of the tournament with a final round even par 72.  

Ole Miss will wrap up the fall portion of its 2018-2019 schedule next week as the Rebels travel to Kissing Tree Golf Club in San Marcos, Texas, to play in the Jim West Challenge. Following the Jim West Challenge, the Rebels will be off until late February when they start the spring portion of their schedule.