Alex qualifies for U.S. Women's Amateur, Keith misses by one stroke

By A. Boggs

Rising junior and first team All-American Marina Alex qualified for the U.S. Amateur on Monday after registering co-medalist honors at U.S. Amateur qualifying at the Haworth Country Club in Haworth, N.J. Alex, from Wayne, N.J., shot an even-under par 71, and tied Kelly Shon of Port Washington, N.Y., for first place in the qualifier.

Alex's hometown newspaper, northjersey.com, chronicled her trip around the Haworth course in this article. The U.S. Amateur is slated for August 9-15 at Charlotte Country Club in North Carolina.

Anna Leigh Keith attempted to qualify for the U.S. Amateur on Tuesday at the Wanderer's Club in Wellington, Fla, but missed the cut by one stroke. Keith shot a 73.

Commodores making the turn

By A. Boggs

Since the last blog entry, we had another storm delay for about 45 minutes, and have been back on the course for about 20 minutes or so.  There is a line of storms that have been in the area for most of the afternoon, and there may be more stoppages ahead.  As you can see from the picture, even the turtles are trying to avoid the water.

I talked with assistant coach Nicki Cutler during the latest stoppage about what the NCAA will do today and whether we will get all 72 holes in for the tournament.  She informed me that they have built in Saturday as a make up day if they need one, but they will try and do what they can to fit everything in by Friday.

I wasn't a meteorology major, but the weather looks as if it will be okay for the rest of the week once this latest storm moves through.

Marina Alex and Lauren Stratton birdied their ninth hole, the 18th, and two Commodores, Megan Grehan and Anna Leigh Keith, are near or at the turn.  At the moment, Vanderbilt is six-over par for their round, with the easiest nine holes still to play.  VU has been very unlucky with the weather - yesterday morning, conditions were rainy and windy to start (when VU played), while the afternoon was beautiful, and today, the morning was perfect with the afternoon kicking up storms and windy conditions.

Check back later for more when it becomes available.

Video: Catching up with Greg Allen and Anna Leigh Keith

By A. Boggs

Vucommodores.com caught up with Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen and top finisher Anna Leigh Keith after the first round of the NCAA Championship in Wilmington, N.C. on Tuesday afternoon. The Commodores shot eight-over par for their round on Tuesday as a team, and Keith fired a one-under par, 71, which tied for her lowest round of the season.

Greg Allen


Anna Leigh Keith

Commodores end first day at eight-over par

By A. Boggs

The Commodores ended the first day of play at the NCAA Championship with an eight-over par, 296, which is currently fifth among teams that have finished their rounds.

VU was led by freshman Anna Leigh Keith, who posted a one-under par, 71. The Moultrie, Ga., native finished with four birdies in her last five holes, and is currently in a tie for sixth in the individual rankings. Her 71 tied a season-best - her previous 71 came in the Bryan National Collegiate in Greensboro, N.C., on April 4, which was also her best finish of the season (T-10).

Megan Grehan ended her round with a two-over par, 74, Marina Alex with a three-over par, 75, Brooke Goodwin with a four-over par, 76, and Lauren Stratton finished with a six-over par, 78.

More to come later, including video interviews with head coach Greg Allen and top finisher Anna Leigh Keith, along with an official recap on vucommodores.com when everyone finishes their round on Tuesday.

Women's Golf in Wilmington, N.C., for NCAA Championship

By A. Boggs

The women's golf team is in Wilmington and ready to take on the nation's best at the NCAA Championship this Tuesday through Friday at the Country Club of Landfall. Vanderbilt will tee off at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Here's a photo of the team at dinner on Monday night. Longhorn was the call, and it was a good one. Anna Leigh Keith's parents, Jim and Laura, made the trip up from Moultrie, Ga., and joined us for the meal.

After dinner, the coaches and players attended a rules meeting on the campus of UNC Wilmington, which is a only a few miles away from the hotel.

This tournament is a huge deal here in Wilmington. The word on the street is that there are over 400 volunteers for the tournament, with a waiting list! From all accounts from our coaches and players, the golf course is in excellent condition, and it will play very fair this week. They told me to not expect a lot of low numbers from everyone in the field, but they love their chances this week. A lot of confidence with this group.

Stay tuned to the blog and vucommodores.com for periodic updates from the course throughout the week. Live scoring of the tournament is also available on the website and on golfstatresults.com.

If you would like to read more from the Wilmington Star News Online about the tournament, you can here.

Videos: Women's Golf SEC Championship

Andy Boggs caught up with women's golf head coach Greg Allen, freshman Anna Leigh Keith and senior Brooke Goodwin as the Commodores prepare for the 2010 SEC Championship this weekend in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

For a complete tournament preview, click here.