May 14, 2008

Rachael Schmidt (Jr./Elk River, Minn.) shot a 77 (+5) on day two of the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships. The tournament is being played at the Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas. Schmidt followed up her first day score of 76 for a two-day total of 153 (+9) which places her in a tie for 22nd place. This is the third time that Schmidt has earned an individual spot at the NCAA Division II Championships.

Schmidt opened up today's round on the back with a birdie on number ten, but quickly fell off pace with a double bogey and five bogeys to complete her first nine holes six strokes over par with a 42. The junior regrouped nicely at the turn as she parred five of the first six holes on the front side. Schmidt sat at +7 on the day with three holes to play and the NSIC Golfer of the Year came through with two birdies in the final three holes. She carded a two on the par-three seventh and a four on the par-five eighth, before nearly grabbing a third birdie in a row on number nine. Her tap-in par on the ninth green gave her a 77 (+5) on the day and a tie at 22nd in the Championship. Three golfers share the lead in the tournament; all three have shot an even-par 144 through the first 36 holes.

The National Championship is a four round event that will crown both a team champion and ten All-Americans. Schmidt finished in a tie for 10th as a freshman in 2006 to earn All-American honors by compiling a 54-hole total of 236 (78.6 average). As a sophomore, Schmidt finished 32nd in 2007 with a 72-hole total of 317 (79.2 average). She is set to tee off in the next to last group of the day beginning at 2:03 p.m. Schmidt will once again begin her round on the back nine.