May 22, 2009
Vanderbilt freshman Marina Alex shot a final-round 69 and shot up the leaderboard 37 places to finish in a tie for 37th place in her first NCAA Championship on Friday at the Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mill, Md. Alex was competing as an individual at the tournament and finished with a total of 303 (79-81-74-69).
After struggling in the first two rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, Alex put together a solid 36 holes to end the tournament and put her in the top 40. Alex was one-under par in her final two rounds, and her 69 on Friday was one of only three rounds in the 60’s all day. Only Alabama’s Brooke Pancake posted a better round than Alex on the final day after she carded a 68.
Alex’s 143 (74-69) on the final 36 holes also tied a tournament best, a total she shared with individual champion Maria Hernandez of Purdue and Calle Nelson of Virgina.
The freshman from Wayne, N.J., finished her final round with five birdies and only two bogeys, and punctuated her last 18 holes with a birdie on her last hole, the par four, 385-yard ninth.
“She wanted to finish in the top five in the last two rounds and she did that,” said Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen. “She ended her round today with a birdie to cap a great round and a great freshman year.
“I’m very proud of her,” continued Allen. “A top 40 result as a freshman is a great accomplishment for her, and we look forward to seeing her use this experience next season and for years to come.”
