Last December, 23 year old Emily Talley won $50,000 as the female winner of Golf Channel's "Big Break NFL Puerto Rico", and, the biggest prize, an exemption into the ShopRite LPGA Classic, which is being contested this week in New Jersey.
Sorry to report that Emily's Big Break ended yesterday when she failed to make the cut in the tournament. She shot 75-72 (5 over par), thirteen shots behind leader Stacey Lewis. However, Emily can take solace in the fact that her +5 score tied her with twelve other golfers, and that she actually finished ahead of twenty-seven other golfers, including one time LPGA major champion Morgan Pressel.
It's not what she wanted, I'm sure, but she has to be encouraged. Here's hoping that we hear more from Miss Talley in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, the male winner of "Big Break NFL Puerto Rico", Isaac Sanchez, gets his big break this coming week in the PGA Tour's FedEx St. Jude Classic. Also, recent "Big Break Florida" winner, Jackie Stoelting gets her big break in LPGA ManuLife Financial Classic this week, as well.
I shall be watching.
This coming weekend will see the playing of the Shoprite Classic on the LPGA Tour. This is significant in that one of the participants will be Emily Talley, who was the female winner of the Big Break NFL last year.
Emily's Big Break was a spot in the field of this LPGA event. The Grandstander will be following her in this event and will report on her progress. Good luck, Emily!
SPOILER ALERT: The remainder of this post will discuss the recently completed Big Break Florida. If you have saved these episodes on your DVR and have not yet seen them, stop reading now and come back later.
The season concluded last Monday night with a match between finalists Jackie Stoelting, 27,
and Fiamma Felitch, 24.
Both were likable, attractive, and good players throughout the season, and I would have been happy had either young lady prevailed. However, the championship match offered little suspense, as Jackie dominated from the first hole on and won the match, 5 and 4. As part of her Big Break, Jackie will have a spot in the LPGA Manulife Financial Classic in Ontario that will be played from June 5-8. I shall be reporting on that event as well.
What was the best news of the finale was the fact that the "villainess" of the series, the equine-like and foul-mouthed Mary Narzisi, 24,
was not a part of the championship match. She did make it to the Final Four of the series, and she got more irritating and unlikable with each passing show. I was hoping she'd have been gone by week two.
Anyway, another great edition of the only "reality show" that I watch. Can't wait for the next one.
