May 18, 2011
First Round Results | 
Round One Photo Gallery (Gary Petit)
Vanderbilt women’s golfers Marina Alex and Anna Leigh Keith each shot an even-par 72 to lead the Commodores to an eighth-place finish out of 24 teams after the first-round of the 2011 NCAA Championships at The Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas. The Commodores shot a nine-over par, 297, and are a stroke back of seventh-place Arizona State and two strokes back of host Texas A&M.
Alex and Keith each had three birdies and three bogeys in their first 18 holes at The Tradition. Both had impressive saves on their last hole of the day, the ninth hole on the course – Alex saved bogey after taking a penalty stroke on her tee shot, and Keith nailed a 15-footer for par. Alex birdied two of her last three holes in her round today.
The Commodores also counted a 76 from sophomore Lauren Stratton and a 77 from freshman Rene Sobolewski. Senior Megan Grehan fired a first-round 80.
“I thought it was a pretty decent start for us today,” said Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen. “We had a good solid round out of Marina and Eddie, two even par rounds. It was the first day, and I know they don’t give out any hardware out after today, but we’re in a decent position. We have three rounds of golf left, and just need to get an overall team effort in the next three days. Anything can happen. Their mindset is good, and I know after what happened at regionals, anything can happen with this group. We’re not going to stop trying until that last putt drops on Saturday.”
UCLA leads all teams with a one-over par, 289, three strokes better than second-place Virginia, who ended the first round with a 292.
Brittany Altomare of Virginia leads all individuals with a three-under par, 69. Caroline Powers of Michigan State, Michelle Shin of Wake Forest, and Glory Yang of UCLA are a stroke back at two-under par, 70.
The Commodores will be in the afternoon wave on Thursday, with their first golfer teeing off at 1:36 p.m. CT.
8. Vanderbilt – 297
T10. Marina Alex – 72
T10. Anna Leigh Keith – 72
T57. Lauren Stratton – 76
T70. Rene Sobolewski – 77
T104. Megan Grehan – 80
