Sept. 12, 2011
The 18th-ranked Commodores used six birdies from Marina Alex and Lauren Stratton in the back nine of their round on Monday to move into a tie for fifth place at the Cougar Classic at Yeamens Hall Golf Club in Charleston, S.C., with a total of 581 (290-291). Alex is in a tie for 12th individually after shooting a two-under par, 70, in the second round (72-70=142, T-12), while Stratton, who birdied three out of her last four holes, finished at one-under for the day and is in a tie for 20th (73-71=144) heading into the final day of competition on Tuesday.
Vanderbilt also counted a pair of 75’s from junior Anna Leigh Keith and freshman Kendall Martindale. Freshman Irina Gabasa shot a 76 in her round at Yeamens Hall.
Sophomore Rene Sobolewski played as an individual and posted a second-round 73.
“I was happy to see Marina and Stratty finish strong,” said Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen. “It’s something we’ve been focusing on since the end of last year.”
The Commodores are in a tie for fifth with fellow SEC schools Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.
North Carolina vaulted up the leaderboard to take over first place after posting a second-round best 282 on Monday. The Tar Heels hold a one stroke lead over Florida.
Individually, Erica Popson of Tennessee maintains her lead and has a nine-over par, 135 after two rounds. Popson holds a one stroke lead over 2011 NCAA individual champion Austin Ernst.
“The scoreboard says it all,” said Allen. “We play well, we finish in the top five, if we struggle, then we finish 10th. We have a good chance to post a good result on Tuesday.”
The final round of the Cougar Classic concludes on Tuesday.
T-5th. Vanderbilt – 290-291=581 (+5)
T-12. Marina Alex – 72-70=142 (-2)
T-20. Lauren Straton – 73-71=144 (E)
T-32. Anna Leigh Keith – 72-75=147 (+3)
T-32. Rene Sobolewski – 74-73=147 (+3)*
T-38. Kendall Martindale – 73-75=148 (+4)
T-47. Irina Gabasa – 74-76=150 (+6)
*Individual
