However, nothing in Byrd’s golfing career prepared him for the events of this weekend in Mexico. Julia Johnson, a 20-year-old junior golfer at Ole Miss from St. Gabriel, Louisiana shot an 11-under-par 61 in the final round of the Battle of the Beach Tournament at San Jose Del Cabo. She is located close to the Pacific Ocean, on the Baja California peninsula. Byrd said, “I have never seen anything similar.” It was my best round of golf and there isn’t any other comparable. It was a 61, which could have been a 56. It was amazing.” It was also the most successful round of Ole Miss golf history for either men or women. It was tied for the most successful round in NCAA women’s history. Johnson used the word “shocking” to describe her best round. Johnson shot 63 in a high-school tournament once, and won the Louisiana state high schools championship four years straight. She says that was on a short, easy course. Mexico’s 61 was different. Club Campestre San Jose, a Jack Nicklaus-designed 6,200-yard course is littered with bunkers. The record round saw winds gusting up to 30 mph from the ocean. Byrd said, “It was one of the most difficult courses we had to play in this fall season.” In those conditions, a score of 67 would have been an amazing round on that course. This is how it works: Nobody was shooting 61 on that course that day.” Johnson led Ole Miss, 13th in the rankings to its third fall team championship. LSU was seven shots behind the Rebels, which is just a few minutes from Johnson’s childhood home and where she once attended. Johnson’s 61 was a bit of a surprise, as Johnson’s Ole Miss team score of 11 under-par 277 in the final round was the third-lowest in team history. Her score was 11 under par. The rest of her team was just par. How do you shoot 61? It helps to start with eagle and birdie birdie birdie birdie. Johnson did this. Funny story: Byrd missed Johnson on the first three holes but saw the last 15. He naturally asked Johnson how it was going when he joined Johnson at the fourth tee. She replied that she had begun 3-2-3. Byrd suggested that she might just go. Johnson responded, “Hang around here and let’s watch how it goes,” and promptly birdied again. She said, “OK.” He said, “You can stay around.” The birdies just kept coming. She made nine birdies, one eagle, and eight pars. Yes, 59 was possible. To shoot 59, she needed birdies on the last two holes. Instead, she made solid pars. Byrd stated, “But I’m telling her she could have shot at least 58.” Johnson’s passion for excellence and the fact that she missed several putts below 10 feet is a testament to her talent. On Wednesday, Johnson was back at Ole Miss’ coaches’ office asking: “What can you do to improve?” What was your observation that you could improve?” Byrd said that her wedge game, which ranged from 90 to 110 yards, was slightly off in the final round. She went to the practice tee. This will give you more information about Johnson. Johnson is an honors student and will graduate next spring with a degree of political science. During her senior year of eligibility, she plans to pursue a Master of Business Administration. She did not plan to play on the LPGA Tour until two weeks before her Mexico trip. She said, “Honestly, my game is so much improved, and my ball-striking skills have gotten so much better, that I feel like it’s something I owe myself and to everyone who supported me to try it.” She has seen her world and U.S ranking rise this fall to the point that she will be qualified for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur next spring. She is aiming for an NCAA championship next spring and hopes to match Braden Thornberry, her NCAA men’s champion won for Ole Miss in 2017. Johnson stated that her goals have changed significantly this fall. Johnson said that much of this happened before she shot 61.