Nov. 16, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina women’s golf coach Kalen Harris announced the signing of Sarah Schmelzel to a National Letter of Intent for the 2012-13 season on Wednesday.

Schmelzel, a native of Phoenix, Ariz., will join the Gamecocks after compiling an impressive high school and junior résumé.

“I am especially excited about Sarah joining our program,” Harris said. “Sarah has solid swing fundamentals and a wealth of experience playing at the national level. Most importantly, Sarah possesses the passion, work ethic and `coachability’ that I look for in the players that I recruit.

“With her recent tournament victories, Sarah is just beginning to gain momentum toward her potential. She is a very talented player and will make a significant impact individually and for the Gamecock program.”

Schmelzel is currently ranked No. 19 nationally in the Class of 2012 by the National Junior Golf Scoreboard. She is also the No. 54 player nationally in the Golfweek junior rankings. Schmelzel completed a stellar high school career this fall as she won medalist honors at the 2011 Arizona State High School Championship and led Xavier Prep to its third team state title in four years. She carded rounds of 71-66 at the state championship to tie the Arizona state high school scoring record with Amanda Blumenhurst, who was a three-time national collegiate player of the year at Duke.

Schmelzel also won the American Junior Golf Association Bass Pro Shops/Payne Stewart Championship in Springfield, Mo. in August by 12 strokes with rounds of 69-71-70.

Schmelzel joins a South Carolina program that will return six of the seven golfers on its current roster in 2012-13.