April 16, 2010
Senior Brooke Goodwin fired a two-under par, 69, to lead the Commodores on the first day of the SEC Championships, and is in a tie for second heading into the second 18 holes Saturday at the NorthRiver Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa, Ala. As a team, Vanderbilt is in a tie for third place at even par, 284, with Ole Miss and LSU, four strokes behind the co-leaders Arkansas and Georgia.
Goodwin had three birdies, a bogey, and 14 pars in her round on Friday, which was her second-best of the season. She posted a 68 in her very first round of the season at the Duramed Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C. Goodwin is in a tie for second with four other golfers, and trails the leader, Benedicte Toumpsin of South Carolina, by one stroke.
Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen said Goodwin’s start was a key for the Commodores on Friday.
“Brooke was first off for us today, and for her to post that 69, it was really nice to get off to such a good start,” said Allen.
Sophomore Marina Alex, the team’s leading scorer and the second-leading scorer in the SEC, had an up-and-down round and ended her day with an even-par 71. Alex stood at two-over par heading into her last hole of the day, the par-five, 505-yard ninth hole. She made an eagle on her final hole, holing out from 71 yards to push her to even par and a tie for 14th place.
Vanderbilt also counted a pair of one-over par, 72’s from freshman Anna Leigh Keith and junior Megan Grehan, who both sit in a tie for 20th . Freshman Lauren Stratton shot a 76 on Friday and is in a tie for 44th.
“It was one of those days that I felt relaxed and the team was relaxed, and for the exception of a three-hole stretch for Lauren, it just looked easy for everyone,” said Allen. “It was a good start for us.
“284 is a really good score for us, and a really good start,” continued Allen. “This team really wants to focus on one day at a time, one stroke a time. We’re starting over tomorrow, and it’s a brand new day. We’re just treating it as another 18 holes of golf.”
The second 18 holes at the NorthRiver Yacht Club continue on Saturday.
