Alex drops quarterfinal match at North and South Amateur

By A. Boggs

Junior-to-be Marina Alex dropped her quarterfinal match at the 108th North and South Amateur Championship 1-down to Isabelle Lendl, a golfer at the University of Florida.

Alex was two-up after nine holes, but Lendl birdied two out of her next four holes to move 1-up. Lendl then held on to come away with the win.

Marina's next tournament will be the U.S. Amateur in Charlotte, N.C., August 9-15.

Marina Alex advances to second round of 108th North and South Women's Amateur

By A. Boggs

Rising junior and first team All-American Marina Alex won her first round match at the 108th North & South Women's Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C., 5-and-4 over Chihiro Ikeda of the Phillipines. Alex, the number four seed at the prestigious match play event, will take on Austin Ernst of Seneca, S.C., an LSU signee.

Alex had five birdies in her round today, including three out of her last five holes. The Wayne, N.J., native will tee off at 8:02 Eastern on Thursday.

Commodore signee Rene Sobolewski of Buffalo, N.Y., who qualified for match play on Tuesday in an 18-hole qualifier, dropped her first-round match to number three seed Lindy Duncan on Wednesday. Sobolewski will enroll at Vanderbilt in August.

For a look at the entire 64-person bracket, click here.

Final NBA Summer League stats

By A. Boggs

Summer League play wrapped up Sunday in Las Vegas, with 2007 SEC Player of the Year Derrick Byars leading all former Vanderbilt players. Byars, who played with the Bulls, averaged 6.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in five games for the Bulls. A.J. Ogilvy also played for the Bulls this summer and averaged 1.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in three games.

Jermaine Beal averaged 17.8 minutes per game in four games with the Miami Heat, and averaged 5.8 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

2008 SEC Player of the Year Shan Foster played in five games with the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas, and averaged 4.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per contest.

Video: MBB summer weightlifting session

by A. Boggs

Most of the returning basketball players and two of the incoming freshmen participated in a weightlifting session at the McGugin Center weigh room on Monday, and we were there to catch it on video. Men's basketball strength coach Mark Davis put the guys through a gauntlet of movements, including bench press, power cleans, and push presses.

Davis puts the crew through strenuous workouts four days a week, and the results can be seen in the video.

Just a reminder, Vanderbilt basketball season tickets go on sale Thursday night at 6 p.m. CT on vucommodores.com and at the McGugin Center ticket office Friday morning.

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Beal goes for 11 points in Heat Summer League win

By A. Boggs

Jermaine Beal once again logged big-time minutes for the Miami Heat Wednesday night in NBA Summer League play in Las Vegas, but unlike the game on Tuesday, his team came away with a win - a 92-83 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Beal played 21 minutes, scored 11 points, dished out three assists, and had two rebounds in the Heat win. Beal was 2-for-6 from the floor, but converted all seven of his free throws. On Tuesday, the former Commodore point guard scored four points in 26 minutes of action in a loss to Golden State.

Derrick Byars logged nine minutes for the Bulls in a 79-50 win over the Clippers, but did not score. A.J. Ogilvy did not play in the game.

Newly minted Vanderbilt Hall of Fame member Shan Foster returns to the floor tonight against the Washington Wizards in Summer League action. The game tips at 8 p.m. Pacific time.

Three Commodores in action Tuesday in Summer League

By A. Boggs

Three former Commodores saw playing time in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Tuesday, as Derrick Byars and A.J. Ogilvy suited up for the Bulls, while Jermaine Beal saw his first action of the summer with the Miami Heat.

Byars started for the Bulls in a 99-71 loss to the Denver Nuggets, played nearly 20 minutes and scored six points and grabbed four rebounds. Ogilvy played eight minutes, was 1-of-2 from the floor, and scored two points.

Beal played significant minutes for the Heat Tuesday in a 72-69 loss to Golden State. The DeSoto, Texas, native, who did not play in Miami's first game of the summer, played 26 minutes and scored four points, dished out two assists, and had one steal against the Warriors. He also had a plus/minus of +7 - which means while he was on the floor, the Heat scored seven more points than the Warriors. It was the highest total for any Heat player on the day.

The Bulls are back in action tonight against the Clippers at 8 p.m. pacific, and the Heat take on the Pistons at 10:30 p.m.

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.

Former women's golf great Chris Brady competes on Big Break Sandals

By A. Boggs

Former women's golf standout Chris Brady is competing on the Golf Channel's Big Break reality series this year and is still alive after three rounds of cuts. Brady, who earned a conditional LPGA card in 2008, is competing at the Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas, with 10 other golfers for two professional tour exemptions.

If you're not familiar with the Big Break reality show, here's a quick synopsis from the Golf Channel's website.

The hit reality show is back and this season, eleven female golfers compete against each other for the chance at two professional Tour tournament exemptions. Despite the tropical setting, it won’t be all fun and games in paradise. The familiar skills-based challenges return to test the ladies’ abilities and the drama is heightened when the women must all live together in the same island villa.

A new episode of the show airs tonight at 8 p.m. CT on the Golf Channel.

For more information on the series and when you can catch Chris in action, click here.

NBA Summer League stats of interest

By A. Boggs

Two former Commodores, Shan Foster and Jermaine Beal, each suited up for their first NBA Summer League game over the weekend for their respective teams, the Mavs and the Heat.

Foster, a 2008 2nd round pick of Dallas, scored six points on 2-of-4 shooting in an 88-70 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday, and two points on 1-of-4 shooting in 14 minutes of action in the Mavs' 87-78 loss to the Rockets on Saturday. Foster and the Mavs play the Bucks Monday at 5 p.m. pacific time in their next game.

Beal's Heat team defeated the New Orleans Hornets, 77-72, but Beal did not play (Coach's Decision). The Heat take on Golden State on Tuesday night in their next matchup.

Former Commodores Derrick Byars and A.J. Ogilvy begin Summer League play with the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday against the Nuggets.

For a complete rundown of Summer League action, click here.

Four Commodores ready for NBA Summer League in Vegas

By A. Boggs

Four former Commodore players are preparing for NBA Summer League action in Las Vegas, with play beginning on Friday and lasting through Sunday, July 18th.

A.J. Ogilvy and Derrick Byars, who will both play with the Bulls this summer, will tip off their summer season at 1 p.m. Pacific time on Tuesday, July 13, when Chicago takes on the Denver Nuggets. The game can be seen live on NBA TV. Other games for the summer for Chicago include a game with the Clippers on 5 p.m. on July 14 (NBA TV), a matchup with the Clippers at 5:30 on July 16, and a game against Portland on July 18 at 3 p.m. (NBA TV).

Jermaine Beal, who just latched on with the Miami Heat's Vegas team, will play New Orleans at 7 p.m. on July 11 (NBA TV), against Golden State at 7:30 p.m. on July 13, versus Detroit at 7:30 p.m. on July 14, against Milwaukee on July 16 at 7:30 p.m., and against Cleveland at 3 p.m. on July 17 (NBA TV).

Shan Foster will once again suit up this summer for the Mavericks, who drafted the 2008 SEC Player of the Year in the second round of that year's draft. Foster and the Mavericks will play against Denver on July 9 at 1 p.m. (NBA TV), on July 10 against Houston at 7 p.m. (NBA TV), on July 12 against Milwaukee at 5 p.m. (NBA TV), on July 15 against the Wizards at 5 p.m. (NBA TV) and on July 18 against Sacramento at 5 p.m. (NBA TV).

Stay tuned to the blog for further updates on these former Commodores, and click here for the complete NBA Summer League schedule.

Ogilvy, Beal secure NBA Summer League roster spots

By A. Boggs

Former Commodores will get very familiar with each other this summer in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. A.J. Ogilvy, who went undrafted, will play with former VU great Derrick Byars for the Chicago Bulls this summer, while Jermaine Beal, who was also undrafted, will play with Shan Foster for the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas. Beal was invited as a mini-camp invitee.

Play begins in Vegas for Beal and Foster on July 9, while Byars and Ogilvy begin summer play on July 13.

Click here for more info on the NBA Summer Leagues.

Curran, Snedeker at four-over par after round one of U.S. Open

By A. Boggs

Vanderbilt alums Jon Curran and Brandt Snedeker both shot a four-over par, 75, in their first trip around Pebble Beach on Thursday at the U.S. Open. Both are in contention to make the cut, which is projected to be around seven or eight over par.

Snedeker will tee off at 8:39 am Pacific time, while Curran will have to wait until 2:42 for his second round.

You can follow the scores in a multitude of places around the web, but here's a link to the official site, USGA.com.

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.

Alex stays in second after two rounds of Women's Eastern

By A. Boggs

Marina Alex remains in second place after two rounds of the Women's Eastern Amateur after posting a three-over par, 75, on Wednesday at the Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club in Scotch Plains, N.J. Alex trails Brittany Altomare, a University of Virginia golfer, by four strokes heading into the final round Thursday.

Alex sits at two-over par for the tournament (71-75=146), and is attempting to become the first New Jersey golfer to win the Women's Eastern since 1979.

To read more about Alex's second round, check out Stephen Hennessey's recap at NorthJersey.com here.

Alex in second at Eastern Women's Golf Association Amateur

By A. Boggs

Vanderbilt rising junior Marina Alex is currently in second place after the first round of the 99th Women’s Eastern Golf Association Amateur in Scotch Plains, N.J., after firing a one-under par, 71, on Tuesday at the Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club.

Alex is one stroke back of the leader, Brittany Altomare of the University of Virginia, who shot a 70.

Fifty-seven golfers are in the three-day, 54-hole tournament that is being held in New Jersey for the first time since 1979.

To read more about Alex and the tournament, click here to read Greg Mattura's first day recap at NorthJersey.com.

Ogilvy works out with Bucks

By A. Boggs (Photo: NBA.com)

The kind folks at the Milwaukee Bucks sent me an email about their website, nba.com/bucks, which has an interview with A.J. Ogilvy after his workout with the team on Tuesday.

Here's the link to read Ogilvy's comments after the workout. We want to wish him luck as he gets ready for the draft, which takes place June 24 in New York City.

Marina Alex named NGCA First Team All-American

By A. Boggs

At National Golf Coaches Association banquet, where Marina Alex was named a first team All-American.

Congrats to Marina, who had the best season stroke average in the history of Commodore women's golf. She joins Jacqui Concolino and May Wood as the only first teamers to ever don the black and gold.

Commodores post 18-over par, currently in seventh

By A. Boggs

Vanderbilt is in the clubhouse with an 18-over par, 1170 (296-292-291-291) and are currently in seventh position as of 5:48 EST. UCLA is one stroke in front of the Commodores, but the Bruins still have a few holes left to play.

Brooke Goodwin led VU with a one-under par, 71, in her final round as a collegian. The senior from Fuquay-Varina, N.C., was tied for 13th in the last individual update that was available on Golfstat.com, which has been acting up all day and been very inconsistent.

Picture above is of Brooke Goodwin signing her last collegiate scorecard.

Stay tuned for more information on vucommodores.com as they become available.

Commodores are off...

By A. Boggs

Vanderbilt is off and running in the final round of the NCAA Championship in Wilmington.

Anna Leigh Keith was the first one to tee off for VU, and her picture is above.

VU is in sixth place heading into today, with the all-time best finish at a national championship within reach. The Commodores finished fifth in the 2004 championship.

We'll have updates throughout the day here at the blog. You can also follow live scoring. Stay tuned.

Video: Greg Allen talks about the 'Dores third round and changing a flat tire

By A. Boggs

Oh, the adventures of the road. Just when you thought you would have a nice relaxing evening after a great Italian meal, you get back to the hotel to find the back left tire of your rental car completely flat. I didn't flip the Commodore pit crew, although I thought long and hard about it, but decided to ask the coach about the incident afterwards, along with his thoughts on Vanderbilt's third round in Wilmington.

We're all pretty pooped after a long day at the course. We're back at it again tomorrow for the final round to try and get some hardware and to set a record. VU's best finish in the NCAA Championship was a fifth place finish at the 2004 championship, and the top four teams receive a trophy from the NCAA. It would be a great finish to a great year.

Until then, good night from Wilmington.