March 2, 2012
Vanderbilt sophomore Rene Sobolewski and freshman Kendall Martindale each fired a first-round 74 to lead the Commodores to a sixth-place finish after the first day of play at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate in Hilton Head, S.C. As a team, the Commodores shot a 15-over par, 299, at the par-71, 6,160-yard Long Cove Club.
The Commodores also counted a 75 from Lauren Stratton and a 76 from Marina Alex on a very windy day in Hilton Head.
“The wind was very severe,” said Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen. “We only got to play the first six holes before the wind picked up. Without wind, this golf course is tough for irons, and it’s even tougher when you’re not hitting those irons from the fairway.
“But, we’ll be okay. Marina and Stratty never really got it clicking today, but they hung in there tough. We’re expecting some bad weather here tomorrow, but I expect us to come out and play well on Saturday.”
Alabama leads the tournament by four strokes over second-place North Carolina after firing a first-round 288. The Crimson Tide’s Stephanie Meadow is one of two players under par after shooting a four-under par, 67, and leads all individuals. Monifa Sealy of UCF is three strokes back at one-under par, 70.
6. Vanderbilt – 299
T16. Kendall Martindale – 74
T16. Rene Sobolewski – 74
T27. Lauren Stratton – 75
T31. Marina Alex – 76
T60. Irina Gabasa – 79
Par a Good Score
Of the 81 players competing in the tournament, only five players are at par or better.
Commodores Rock with Rucker Thursday night
Darius Rucker, former lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish and current country music star, put on a private concert for the teams on Thursday night. According to Coach Allen, Rucker played all of the Hootie hits and some of his country numbers. See the picture below to check out Darius on stage.
Tee Times 9 a.m. Saturday
Due to impending weather in Hilton Head, there will be a 9 a.m. shotgun start on Saturday morning. Vanderbilt will tee off on holes four through seven.
‘Dores Find Time For R and R
While many of us are dodging severe thunderstorms in the Middle Tennessee area, the Commodores found some time to hang out on the beaches of Hilton Head. Somebody has to do it!
