Photo Credit: Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Former Vanderbilt golf standout Marina Alex, a two-time SEC Player of the Year in her Commodore career, will play for Team USA at the upcoming Solheim Cup.
Alex will make her first appearance at the Solheim Cup, a Ryder Cup-style competition involving 12-member teams from the United States and Europe. Alex becomes the first Commodore ever to play in the event, which is scheduled Sept. 9-15 in Gleneagles, Scotland.
The official news of Alex’s selection to Team USA came late Sunday, just four days before Alex enters the LPGA Cambia Portland (Oregon) Classic as defending champion.
The native of Wayne, New Jersey can’t wait to represent the red, white and blue.
“It’s an incredible honor and an experience of a lifetime to play for my country in the Solheim Cup,” Alex said. “And I’m also thrilled to be the first Commodore to earn their spot on the USA team.
“I know Brandt (Snedeker) has played a couple of Ryder Cups (2012, 2016) so it’s great to see someone from our women’s program represented. I hope there are many more to come.”
Alex will join a strong American contingent at the 16th Solheim Cup. The team includes Alex, including Lexi Thompson, Danielle Kang, Nelly and Jessica Korda, and Lizette Salas. The full USA roster will be announced Monday.
The Solheim Cup is the pinnacle of women’s golf with the best USA players going head-to-head with Europe’s best in 28 matches over three days. The Americans are captured the last two events, and won 10 of the previous 16 competitions.
Alex is currently 31st in the worldwide Rolex ranking. She is the sixth-ranked American in the ranking. This year, she has earned eight top-25 finishes on the LPGA and two top-20 results in women’s majors.
Alex, who captured medalist honors at the 2010 SEC Championships as a Commodore, enjoyed her best LPGA campaign last year, posting a career-best six top-10 finishes. She also became the first former Commodore to capture an LPGA event last August when she won the Portland Classic with a 19-under 269.
Alex is a 2015 Vanderbilt Athletic Hall of Fame inductee.
