Epsontour.com caught up with 2013 Volvik Race for the Card number three Marina Alex, who recently finished in a tie for ninth at the RICOH Women’s British Open, the third major of the LPGA Tour season.
She was also paired with former Epson Tour grad Mo Martin, who won the event.
The Wayne, New Jersey native played in 21 Epson Tour events over two years and recorded eight top-10 finishes. Her best result was a tie for second at the 2013 Four Winds Invitational in South Bend.
Alex’s performance at the British moved her to 59th on the LPGA Tour money list. She also moved up 158 spots on the ROLEX World Rankings.
Epson Tour: You finished T9 at the RICOH Women’s British Open. What was the whole week like?
Marina: It was honestly incredible. It was my first major as a professional. I played a U.S. Open a while back when I was 18-years-old so this was pretty much my first major. To qualify for it through the Manulife qualifier and then to do so well last week was honestly unbelievable. It couldn’t have been any better. Just coming down on 18 with all the crowds and playing with Mo was so great. I actually played with her my very first professional event in 2012 when I got a sponsor exemption into the ShopRite. We got paired together in the third round as a twosome and that was her first week working with Kyle (Mo Martin’s caddie). It was just really cool to get paired with her again and to watch her win was great. It was her and Kyle’s first win and first major so it was just a really cool moment. It was a perfect story and it was great to be a part of that.
Epson Tour: There was a great moment captured by the ESPN cameras when you gave Mo a big hug on the 18th green, what was that like?
Marina: We were on the green and after she hit the shot that hit the flag and she had 10-feet for eagle we were all saying ‘if she makes that putt she could very well win the British’ so when she rolled it in we knew it was an absolutely unbelievable moment. I was just so happy for her.
Epson Tour: What does a T9 finish do for your season and confidence?
Marina: I’ve been struggling a little bit this season. It has been a tough transition. Epson (Tour) prepares you for the LPGA by playing every week, but it is just tougher being out here on the LPGA Tour. To have a really good finish kind of takes a little bit of pressure off. It also gives me confidence to know I can play well out here, especially in a major. It is definitely going to help out for the second half of the season and allow me to play a little more free and just go out there and try to get near the lead again.
Epson Tour: How did finishing 3rd on the Volvik Race for the Card money list last year get you ready for this year?
Marina: The first half of the year is a learning curve. It’s all just an adjustment and a transition. It was the same thing when I first got out to the Epson Tour. On the Epson Tour, I was so consistent. I think I made all my cuts and had a ton of good finishes so I know that the game is in me. Now that I have improved a little bit and am getting more comfortable out here (LPGA Tour), I’m hoping that I can really draw back on those times I had on the Epson Tour and bring it out here. I want to be a more consistent player and I know I can do that now that I am more comfortable being out here.
Q: What advice would you give current Epson Tour players?
Marina: It’s tough because you are all in a similar position. It is really close out there as far as the money goes so each event is important. Even if you’re in the top-10, there is still pressure because you know there are events left. The Epson Tour forces you to take tournaments one at a time and be in the moment. You have to try and focus all of your efforts on doing the best you can in that specific tournament and not so much worry about the future and how many tournaments you have left and how much money you need to make to keep your card. You think about those things because you can’t help it. We’re all out there to reach the same end goal, but I guess the best thing is just to try and stay in the present. That mind set helps for the LPGA Tour as well.
Q: In your first year on the LPGA Tour, has there been a player that has helped to mentor you?
Marina: Absolutely, there have been a couple people actually. Jacqui Concolino, who was my teammate in college (at Vanderbilt), has really helped me tremendously as well as Christina Kim (a Epson Tour grad). They both have been unbelievably supportive. When you’re out here, having someone that knows what is going on and can give you advice and help you here and there and guide you in the right direction is huge. I owe them a lot, I do.
Q: What are your goals for the rest of the year on LPGA?
Marina: I’m still happy that we have a good amount of tournaments left so I can keep building off last week. I’m pretty sure I got into Evian off of my British Open finish so I will get to play another major. I’m going to do my best to get into the Asia tournaments. That is my goal now that I have put myself in a little better position to do that.
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