Alex finishes second at Women's Eastern Amateur

By A. Boggs

Vanderbilt rising junior Marina Alex finished the Women's Eastern Amateur in second place with a final round total of 216 (71-75-70), finishing four strokes behind Brittany Altomare, who went wire-to-wire for the victory.

Alex fired a 70 in her final round on Thursday at the Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club in Scotch Plains, N.J., which tied for the low round of the day with Altomare, who also fired a third-round 70.

Here's a blog from NorthJersey.com's Andy Vasquez describing Marina's push for the championship:

Wayne’s Marina Alex put plenty of pressure on Brittany Altomare. But Altomare’s putter never faltered.

Altomare used a final round, 2-under 70 to finish at 4-under par for the tournament and hold off Alex, who finished four shots back at even par 216 for the 54-hole tournament.

Alex, a rising junior at Vanderbilt, didn’t make it easy on Altomare, who will be a sophomore at Virginia next season. With Altomare leading by three shots on the 16th hole, Alex chipped in from about 25 feet for birdie. But Altomare calmly answered with a 10 foot birdie putt of her own. Altomare then saved par from 10 feet on the 16th hole and made a 12-footer for birdie on 17, to seal the tournament.

Alex struck the ball well all day, but seemingly couldn’t get a putt to drop until it was too late. She made a 30 footer to save par on the 18th hole, and stay at par for the tournament.

For the complete scoreboard from the tournament, click here.