Senior (2006-07)
Schnell earned his first career victory in the fall with a 206 (67-70-69) at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate, and wrapped the fall with three top-10 finishes in just five tournaments. Schnell enters the spring carrying a 73.96 career stroke average. Over the summer, Schnell was crowned champion of the prestigious 106th North and South Amateur, wrapping up impressive six days straight of competition with a dominant 5&4 victory in a 36-hole final day over Robert Gates of College Station, Texas. Schnell added to his impressive summer resume with his second tournament victory, as he closed the 97th Nebraska State Amateur at Indian Creek in Elkhorn, Neb., with a final round of 70 while also earning a spot in the U.S. Amateur.
Brady Schnell enters the spring season as one of the best golfers in the Big 12 and a leader of a deeply talented Husker team.
“Brady has always had the raw talent and has really started to realize his full potential as one of the elite players in the Big 12,” Coach Bill Spangler said.
Junior (2005-06)
Schnell finished the season with the Huskers’ lowest stroke average of 73.00 through 39 rounds. Schnell’s highlights included a second-place finish at the Fairway Club Invitational in the fall and another second-place finish at the Ron Moore Invitational in the spring. At the Ron Moore Invitational, Schnell led the Husker squad by firing a school and career-record 64 on the opening 18 holes. Schnell finished with a final score of 203 (64-70-69), beating his previous career-low round by five strokes, when he finished with a 208 (73-65-70) at the Pioneer Golf Classic in 2005. His low individual round beat his own previous record of 65 when he shot seven-under par at the 2005 Pioneer Golf Classic. Two other Huskers have fired rounds of 65, including Jamie Rogers at the 1998 NCAA Central Regional and the 1998 Ram Collegiate, and Knox Jones. In the fall, Schnell continued to solidify his spot as the leading scorer in the lineup with a 72.90 stroke average. He displayed the ability to get up and down and scramble around the green. Schnell also posted 15 of 18 rounds of 75 or lower and six under par.
Sophomore (2004-05)
Schnell competed in five of Nebraska’s six fall tournaments before undergoing knee surgery in late October. By spring, Schnell was at the top of his game, posting a team-best 73.97 stroke average over 33 rounds to finish the season. He earned four top-10 finishes, placing second in both the Pioneer Golf Classic (a tie) where he posted a season-low 65 and the Branson Creek Invitational. Schnell also fired a season-low 208 at the Pioneer Golf Classic. Through the season, Schnell recorded scores of 75 and under in 22 of 33 rounds and nine rounds under par. He led the Huskers by earning seven team-best tournament finishes, including a tie for 18th in the Big 12 Championships.
Freshman (2003-04)
Schnell competed in 11 tournaments as a true freshman and flashed his outstanding potential throughout his rookie year. In 31 rounds, Schnell posted a 75.52 stroke average and carded three rounds of 69 during the season, all during the fall campaign. Schnell posted seven top-25 finishes during his freshman season with a season-best tie for eighth place at the Kansas Invitational, when he posted a season-low total of 216, including a second-round 69. Schnell’s Husker career got off to a strong start with a 69 in his first collegiate round at the Fairway Club Invitational. He used the strong start to propel him to a tie for ninth while competing as an individual. His top finish of the spring was a tie for 17th place at the Pepsi-Cola Invitational, helping the Huskers to a team title. He finished 23rd or higher in each of the final four tournaments of the spring season. Schnell finished his freshman season with 15 rounds of 75 or lower.
Before Nebraska
Schnell had an accomplished prep career at Omaha’s Millard West High School, both on the golf course and the baseball diamond. Schnell did not play golf as a senior, instead choosing to enjoy a final season of baseball before college golf. In the the Wildcats’ state runner-up finish, Schnell was a first-team All-Metro selection by the Omaha World-Herald. He also led the state with 18 doubles and ranked among the state leaders in batting average (.400), RBIs (32), runs (30), wins (5) and strikeouts (42). His golf accomplishments were highlighted in the summer of 2003, when he won the 86th Western Junior, one of the nation’s most prestigious junior tournaments. Schnell was a member of the 2002 Nebraska Junior Cup team and participated in the 2002 U.S. Junior Amateur in Atlanta. The champion of the 2001 Kansas Golf Association Collegiate Preview Series, he also claimed a third-place finish at the 2001 Westfield Junior PGA Championship with a final-round 66. Schnell also notched a title win at the 2000 Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship, and led Millard West to a third-place finish at the state tournament in 2002.
Personal
Brady is the son of Curt and Bennie Schnell. Curt was an assistant professional at Omaha’s Oak Hills Country Club before taking the head professional’s job at Crow Valley Country Club in Bettendorf, Iowa. Schnell has one sister, Jamie. He is a political science major.