Pine Prairie native gets win at golf tourney

BY: TRACEY JAGNEAUX
Sports Editor

Each year the top three finishers at the state golf tournament in Division I and II are invited to play in the tournament of champions at Tamaka Trails golf course in Marksville. This year, Pine Prairie native and East Iberville High School student, Julia Johnson got the chance to compete.
Johnson, being the reigning three-time Division I girl’s golf champion, had not had the opportunity to play in the tournament before because of scheduling conflicts. Johnson came in as the favorite and did not disappoint, shooting a career low official round of 64 for the win.
After the round Johnson stated, “The course played longer due to all the rain, so I didn’t expect there to be low scores. I just went out and gave everything I had out on the course.” Despite the soaked conditions, Johnson played flawlessly. Booming drives and laser-like irons from Johnson distanced her from a good field. Johnson opened the round with a birdie on the first hole and never looked back. Johnson had birdies on seven of the eighteen holes played. On the day Johnson hit 14 of 14 fairways, 15 of 18 greens and had 25 putts. Johnson has shot in the low 60’s in numerous practice rounds but had never shot under 65 in an official round.
Johnson returned to play against 43 other players, all of them boys, in an Arrowhead Event at the Bluffs. She shot 74 on day one in pouring rain from 6750 yards. On that day, she had four birdies and six bogeys. She also had four very frustrating three-putts on very slow greens. Day two did not start very well. Johnson was four over par after four holes but settled down and played the last 14 holes two under par. On the day she had four birdies and six bogeys and shot 74. She finished in fifth place, a respectable finish in a field of 43 boys.
Johnson’s summer card is filled with a number of events on tap. She will be playing in a Junior PGA qualifier in Natchez on June 6-7. Following that she plays in the Tri- State event at Oakwing in Alexandria on June 14-16. The Tri-State is a Ryder Cup type of event that pits Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas teams against each other. On June 20-23 Johnson will be playing in a lady amateur event in Lake Charles.
July is also crammed full of major events for Johnson. July 1-3 she will participate in a AJGA event at the Bluffs. July 6-8 is the Jordan Spieth AJGA tournament in Austin Texas. July 13-15 Johnson will be in Huntsville, Alabama and from July 20-23 she will participate in the Davis Love AJGA in Sea Island, Georgia.