New Jersey's Marina Alex Wins Her First LPGA Title
September 6th, 2018
Marina Alex, former Junior Tour member and New Jersey native, entered the winners circle on the LPGA Tour this past week with a four-stroke victory at the Cambia Portland Classic.
Related: Results
Alex started the day six strokes from the leaders and closed her final round with a 7-under 65. This was her 124th start of her career on the LPGA, and it was also the largest margin a player has come-from-behind to win this season.
“I'm just really proud of all the work that I put in and just was able to manage my emotions and hang in there until the very end,” Alex said.
The 28-year-old credited her godfather, Charlie Cowell, Director of Instruction at Crestmont Country Club, and her family for supporting her throughout her career.
“My godfather is my putting coach, and he's my dad's best friend,” Alex said. “My mom, my dad and my brother have meant so much in different ways. My mom emotionally is just always there for me. She traveled to pretty much all of my tournaments growing up. Like my dad would be kind of coaching from the sidelines, and my mom would be there with my brother and I to take us. It's just great to also be able to share golf with my brother. We can play together. He's turned pro, and he's aspiring to do the same thing.”
Image: Crestmont congratulates Marina Alex on her victory.
Up until the walk to the 18th green, Alex did not know where she stood until she asked her caddie, Travis Wilson.
“I didn't even look at the leaderboard at all until the 18th green, and that definitely helped me,“ Alex said.
Alex has had success this year, with three top five finishes on the LPGA Tour, including at the ShopRite Classic in South Jersey, where she made a hole-in-one in the final round. When Alex returned to New Jersey for the U.S. Women’s Open at Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster last summer, she finished as the low American and T11 overall.
Related: Results
Alex started the day six strokes from the leaders and closed her final round with a 7-under 65. This was her 124th start of her career on the LPGA, and it was also the largest margin a player has come-from-behind to win this season.
Game Winner: American Marina Alex collects her 1st LPGA victory closing with a final round 65, closes -19 to rally from six shots back to start the day #PortlandClassic at Columbia Edgewater @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/IsypLfHvtz
— Nick Krupke (@NickKrupke) September 3, 2018
“I'm just really proud of all the work that I put in and just was able to manage my emotions and hang in there until the very end,” Alex said.
The 28-year-old credited her godfather, Charlie Cowell, Director of Instruction at Crestmont Country Club, and her family for supporting her throughout her career.
“My godfather is my putting coach, and he's my dad's best friend,” Alex said. “My mom, my dad and my brother have meant so much in different ways. My mom emotionally is just always there for me. She traveled to pretty much all of my tournaments growing up. Like my dad would be kind of coaching from the sidelines, and my mom would be there with my brother and I to take us. It's just great to also be able to share golf with my brother. We can play together. He's turned pro, and he's aspiring to do the same thing.”
Image: Crestmont congratulates Marina Alex on her victory.
Up until the walk to the 18th green, Alex did not know where she stood until she asked her caddie, Travis Wilson.
“I didn't even look at the leaderboard at all until the 18th green, and that definitely helped me,“ Alex said.
Congratulations @Marina_Deee on your 1st @LPGA victory! We were all cheering you on. Congrats to you too Christina @Golf4Her_LLC !!#Jersey pic.twitter.com/IRIZ9av6s0
— John Mascari 🏌🏻♂️ (@JohnMascariPGA) September 3, 2018
Alex has had success this year, with three top five finishes on the LPGA Tour, including at the ShopRite Classic in South Jersey, where she made a hole-in-one in the final round. When Alex returned to New Jersey for the U.S. Women’s Open at Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster last summer, she finished as the low American and T11 overall.
Congrats to NJ native and longtime NJCC member, @Marina_Deee !! #lpga #marinaalex #northjerseycountryclub https://t.co/lGk7z6APmL
— North Jersey CC (@NorthJerseyCC) September 4, 2018