April 3, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina freshman Sarah Schmelzel has been named the SEC Freshman Golfer of the Week, the league office announced Wednesday.

A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Schmelzel receives the award after recording her first career top-five finish with a third-place showing at the Bryan National Collegiate in Greensboro, N.C. She posted rounds of 71-73-71 for a total of 215 (-1), which matches the second-lowest 54-hole total for a freshman in school history. Schmelzel lowered her season average to a team-best 74.74, which ranks 24th overall and fifth among freshmen in the SEC. She is on pace to break Katie Burnett’s school record for scoring average by a freshman of 75.27, which was set in 2009.

As a team the Gamecocks finished in eighth place ahead of six teams ranked in the Golfstat Top 50, including No. 2 Duke and No. 9 North Carolina.

Schmelzel and the Gamecocks will close out the regular season on April 12-14 at the PING Arizona State Invitational. The 54-hole event will be held at the ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz.