Rachel Gray '12 Recruiting Profile

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My name is Rachel Pearl Gray and my passion is golf. I made my commitment to golf after my 8^th grade year at the Class A State Golf Tournament. Why I stand out from other golfers relates to my risk taking and my willingness to learn and get better. I love the risky shots on the golf course and I love that moment when all the pressure is focused on you and it's time to perform. When something great needs to happen, I'll make it happen.

For example, this past year at the Class A State Golf Tournament, I finished in 3^rd place and there was a specific hole that I played the same way both days. The second hole was a longer par 5 with woods on the right and water on the left. There really wasn't a “safe” place to land besides the fairway. After hitting my drive, and landing in the fairway, I left myself 200 yards. The green was relatively large, but contained a sand trap on the right, two on the left, wood surrounding it and a small pond in the front left of the green leaving only a small fairway. You might say that the appropriate shot would be to land it short, about 100 yards from the green, get your green in regulation, two putt for par and walk off. That's not how I think. I pulled out my 3 hybrid and decided to aim for the right sand trap and draw it back in. One problem I had with that club was the fact that I would draw it too far and it was hard to control it, but at the second of performance, I'm thinking that I'm gonna put it 3 feet from the pin. The result was far from what I wished for. I landed it in the water and had to take a drop, getting a bogey on the hole. The next day I was at the same spot, with the last shot lingering in the back of my mind. I didn't care though. I took out my 3 hybrid just to prove to myself, and everyone watching that I can make that shot. The pressure was on and it was time for me to perform, and I did. I landed the ball just short of the green, chipped and two-putted. Yes, I missed my putt, but I also walked away with a par and proved to myself that I can make the shot.

I've played on the varsity team since 7^th grade (the first year we got a team) and the program has really evolved since. It was around my 10^th grade year that I decided to really take charge and be a good influence to the younger, and even older girls. Now I'm in my senior year and I'm just itching for the season to start! I can't wait to see the girls that are going to try golf for the first time, and some of the returning girls. There is one other senior alongside with me and we truly believe that we have an awesome chance to go to state this year. Along with being encouraging to the younger girls, I will also push the girls to strive to be the best they can. I want to set a good example to the younger golfers at our school and show them they can achieve great things. Last year, I was the first and only of the girl golfers to accomplish an All-State Award and was ranked number 2 by the coaches. I held that spot solidly throughout the year and was only out by .2 for most of the year.

I don't have any personal preferences of where I wish to go to school. There are positives and negatives to different locations. A positive to staying somewhat nearby is being able to see my family quite often. I'm really close with my family and they support me in everything I do. A positive to leaving somewhere farther would be that I can practice year round due to warmer weather. A major decision maker right now would be a broadcast journalism program because as of right now that is what I'm most interested in. Playing golf as a freshman would be a great opportunity because my major goal is to get noticed. I want to pursue golf after college and move on to the LPGA, so whatever gets me there, I want.

Thank you for your time and I can't wait to hear from you,

- Rachel Pearl Gray