Rachel Bailey - "Big Break VI" Contestant

Birthdate: Sept. 27, 1980
Residence: Faulconbridge, New South Wales, Australia
Hometown: Faulconbridge, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Touring Professional
Marital Status/Children: Single
Hobbies: Reading, watching movies and eating chocolate

Home Golf Course: Springwood Country Club, Springwood, NSW, Australia
Collegiate Golf Experience: New Mexico State University
Strongest Part of Game: Balance in the golf swing
Favorite Club: 7-iron
Dream Foursome: Homer Simpson, Camilo Villegas and her dad

The daughter of two math teachers, Rachel grew up in Australia's Blue Mountains approximately an hour west of Sydney. Living in a small town that was 30 minutes from the nearest mall or movie theater, she played sports for entertainment.

At age 10, her dad introduced her to golf, and by 17 she became the first person to win both the Combined High School NSW match-play and stroke-play championship in the same year.

While attending New Mexico State, she won the Sun Belt Conference championship her junior year. Her best finish in 2006 on the Duramed Futures Tour is a tie for third in the Louisiana Futures Classic.

Rachel has yet to compete in the LPGA Qualifying Tournament due to lack of funds. A year ago, she nearly quit golf when she lost sight of the goal of self improvement and it no longer felt fun to tee it up. However, after a week of soul searching with family and friends, the fun-loving Aussie realized that golf provided an opportunity to achieve something many people can only dream about.

Her goals for competing in "The Big Break VI" are to learn to better control her nerves on the golf course and concentrate. Winning the U.S. Women's Open would be her dream victory.

Source: The Golf Channel; used with permission