MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Parks, Williams, Boyd, McCaughn, Kirby, Blackwell, Hopson, DeBar, Suber, Seymour, McMahan, Frazier, Harkins, Chassaniol, Wiggins, Younger, Barnett, Sparks, Caughman, Barrett
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI "OLE MISS REBELS" WOMEN'S GOLF TEAM AND COACH KORY HENKES FOR WINNING THEIR FIRST WOMEN'S NATIONAL TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY.
WHEREAS, it was a fairytale ending for Ole Miss Women's Golf at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, defeating Oklahoma State 4-1 on May 26, 2021, to capture the 2021 NCAA National Championship; and
WHEREAS, with the title, Ole Miss claimed its first National Championship since the school's 1962 football title. The Rebels also became the first Ole Miss women's team to claim an NCAA National Championship; and
WHEREAS, in the final match of the season, with a National Championship on the line, Sophomore Chiara Tamburlini was eager to win her team a point for the first time and did just that out of the third position. The Switzerland native came out strong, birdieing three of her first seven holes, but more importantly, building a commanding six-hole lead through nine. She conceded her first hole of the day on number 10 but took a par-4 on number 12 to put the pressure on OSU. Not wasting any time, Tamburlini won 6&5 to put the first point on the board; and
WHEREAS, Kennedy Swann teed off in her customary leadoff spot, extended her career match play record to 10-2. Tied through the first six holes in match play, the senior began to separate herself. She sank an eagle on number 7 to go up and was not able to be caught. Swann continued with a deep birdie and par putt to go 3-up heading into the back nine. Oklahoma State managed to cut the deficit to one but the Austin, Texas, product responded, going stroke-for-stroke before sinking the final birdie on number 17 to snag the second point and inch Ole Miss that much closer to the title; and
WHEREAS, "It took a lot of players to buy in," said Head Coach Kory Henkes. "Our team is very disciplined, and I think that's what I pride us on the most. When we come out to practice, we have a purpose every single day, and we hold each other accountable which is the really cool part about it. We don't necessarily have to push them as much as they are going to push each other. I think that's the important part of team chemistry, having everyone buy into the same thing"; and
WHEREAS, during the postseason, the Ole Miss Women's Golf Team received many awards following its first national title in program history. Head Coach Kory Henkes was named the 2020-2021 Division I Jackie Steinmann Women's Golf Coaches Association "National Coach of the Year," presented by Golf Pride. Coach Henkes became the first Rebel Head Coach to earn the award from the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA). Ole Miss finished in fourth place or better in nine of the team's 10 tournaments during the 2020-2021 season, including First Place at the East Lake Cup and Gators Invitational. The Top 5 Ole Miss single-round averages throughout a season have all come during Coach Henkes' tenure, including the 2020-2021 mark of 289.4, which ranks second in program history. The nine Top 5 team finishes during the 2020-2021 season are also a new school record. Julia Johnson and Kennedy Swann earned WGCA All-America honors, with Johnson becoming the program's first-ever First-Team All-American; and
WHEREAS, under Coach Henkes' guidance, Julia Johnson finished the season ranked number 8 individually in the NCAA by both Golfstat and Golfweek and led the team in stroke average (71.34). Johnson tallied five Top 5, eight Top 10 and nine Top 20 finishes this season, including a fifth place individual finish at the NCAA Championship; and
WHEREAS, the Ole Miss Woman's Golf Team earned its first-ever WGCA All-Scholar Team GPA Award ranking 10th in the nation among more than 300 NCAA Division I schools with a cumulative team grade point average of 3.88 for the 2020-2021 academic year. WGCA All-Scholar GPA Award Top 25 team in the same season. Four Rebels were honored with the WGCA All-America Scholars: Ellen Hume Andrea Lignell, Kennedy Swann and Chiara Tamburlini all earned the prestigious accolade; and
WHEREAS, the members of the 2021 National Championship Ole Miss Women's Golf Team were: Kennedy Swann, Chiara Tamburlini, Julia Johnson, McKinley Cunningham, Natacha Host Husted, Ellen Hume, Ellen Hutchinson-Kay, Andrea Lignell and Smilla Sonderby; and Head Coach Korey Henkes and Associate Head Coach Zack Byrd; and
WHEREAS, we join the students, faculty and sponsors in recognizing this special group of university athletes who have brought honor to their university, their community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the University of Mississippi "Ole Miss Rebels" Women's Golf Team and Coach Kory Henkes for winning their first women's National Title in school history, and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for continued success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Kory Henkes and Ole Miss Chancellor Glenn Boyce for the team, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.