Double The Hardware
April 17, 2024 | Women's Golf
Julia Lopez Ramirez succeeds individually and collectively for the Bulldogs.
STARKVILLE – Julia Lopez Ramirez is no stranger to finding success on some of the biggest stages in the world of women's golf.
On Sunday afternoon, the junior did it again when she captured her second-consecutive Southeastern Conference Individual Championship, becoming just the fourth golfer in the tournament's history to win the title in back-to-back years. She shot an incredible 10-under par to handle the competition with ease.
When Lopez Ramirez stepped off the plane back in Starkville at George M. Bryan Airport on Tuesday evening, a black backpack over her shoulders and a new trophy clutched in her arms, she beamed with pride.
"Honestly, I'm really happy about it," Lopez Ramirez said. "I'm looking at it, like, it's making me smile, so it's good."
But that wasn't the only hardware that made its way onto the Maroon carpet in front of a group of cheering supporters when Lopez Ramirez and her teammates returned to town.
Mississippi State won its first-ever SEC Tournament title on Tuesday afternoon with a series of crucial victories in SEC match play. The Bulldogs took down both Kentucky and LSU on Monday and defending champion Texas A&M on Tuesday morning to secure the monumental championship.
Lopez Ramirez handled business against tough Wildcat competitor Laney Frye and finished tied with Ingrid Lindblad of LSU in a nail-biter match between two of the world's top amateur golfers to help secure State's appearance in the title match.
The native of Malaga, Spain, said that her performance in the individual portion of the tournament propelled her to success as she headed to the championship round with her teammates.
"It just gave me confidence to just go out there and have fun, play my game and try [to get] the team to get into this spot for all of us," Lopez Ramirez said.
After winning the first hole of Tuesday's final match to set the tone early, the generational talent went on to clinch her point with ease. Lopez Ramirez cruised through the front nine, feeling confident in her play and hoping that her fellow Dawgs were having just as much success as she was.
"I knew I was in control in my match, and I was playing really good golf, so I was just super excited to get it done and go watch the others," Lopez Ramirez said.
Lopez Ramirez officially secured her point in 13 holes, taking a chance to watch her remaining teammates as they made their way down the course.
Ramirez and the team watched as Avery Weed looked to seal the deal once and for all for the Bulldogs. She had been locked in a tough battle all day but held a slight advantage as she made her way up the fairway on the 17th hole. In a crucial moment, the freshman lined up her approach shot, hoping that she would land close enough to the hole to all but guarantee her win.
Student-athletes and coaches watched as Weed's shot sailed through the blue sky, bounced on the green and landed less than one foot from the pin.
"I did find that the other girl hit it really close too, and the farthest [Weed] might have hit it [was] two inches," Lopez Ramirez said. "That was really impressive, and I was super happy jumping, screaming."
Weed sank the putt with ease, and the celebration began for MSU. Lopez Ramirez, now officially an individual and team champion, was one of the first to grab her teammate in an embrace.
"It didn't feel real," Lopez Ramirez said. "It was just like all the hard work came back and we all were shaking, and I didn't know what was going on, but we were all super happy."
The job's not done yet for Ramirez. The decorated veteran has some big goals and is looking to keep on winning — both individually and as a team.
"After winning, having this win, we're going to see," Lopez Ramirez said. "We're going to have pretty good celebrations and also be really confident for [what's] to come."
Next week, Mississippi State will learn of its placement for the NCAA Regionals, which begin on May 3. Lopez Ramirez won the 2023 NCAA Westfield Regional Championship and will look to build on her success as she leads the Bulldogs back to the postseason.
Players Mentioned
