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| Andrew Giuliani (credit) |
Twelve former contestants will get a second chance tonight at The Big Break: Reunion, Revenge, Redemption, this time set in the Dominican Republic. The premise is that teams compete against each other in order for one golfer, male or female, to reign supreme, get exemptions and win prize money.
Sure the prizes and the idea of Big Break are interesting but can't Golf Channel come up with a slew of new contestants or are fans more interested in watching a show that rivals Jersey Shore?
The winning team at the conclusion of the 10-episode series will share the $100,000 cash prize, with $50,000 going to the most valuable player (MVP), who will be crowned Big Break Dominican Republic Champion and a sponsor’s exemption to either the 2011 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on the PGA TOUR or the 2011 Kia Classic presented by J Golf on the LPGA Tour.
In addition to the tournament exemptions and the cash prize, the Big Break champion also will receive an Adams Golf endorsement contract, which includes $10,000 in cash; a $10,000 shopping spree at Dick’s Sporting Goods and an all-expenses paid return trip for two to Casa de Campo Resort in La Romana, Dominican Republic – host site for the series. Each member of the winning team also will receive a four-night getaway to the all-inclusive Iberostar Bavaro in the Dominican Republic, courtesy of Funjet Vacations.
Here are the cast of characters for Big Break Dominican Republic season 14:
Andrew Giuliani (24, New York, N.Y.) – Son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (you see how he got this gig), Andrew is an aspiring professional attempting to make a name in golf. A contestant on Big Break Disney Golf in 2009, Giuliani was eliminated on the eighth episode of the series and developed an on-camera rivalry with fellow competitor Blake Moore, also a competitor and teammate on Big Break Dominican Republic.
David Mobley (45, Charlotte, N.C.) — A dominant force on the Long Drive circuit for the past 15 years, David Mobley competed on Big Break Michigan in 2008, teamed with Long Drive champion Sally Dee. On paper, the team appeared to be the favorites, but they were eliminated in the series’ eighth episode, and Mobley became known as one of the biggest villains in Big Break history.
Blake Moore (26, Denver, Colo.) – A feisty competitor with a tenacity for perfection, Moore was a competitor on Big Break Disney Golf in 2009. He was eliminated in the seventh episode of the series, when his temper got the best of him. His experience on the series was a wake-up call. Moore has since made changes to improve himself on and off the golf course.
Anthony Rodriguez (37, San Antonio, Texas) – Once hailed to become the next Latin star on the PGA TOUR, Rodriguez competed in Big Break Mesquite in 2006. The third contestant eliminated on the series, Rodriguez faced enormous criticism from blogs and chat rooms for his temper and poor sportsmanship. He lost sponsors and his confidence, and ultimately quit the game he loves to return to San Antonio to support his family. Now at peace with his experience on Big Break, Rodriguez is taking full advantage of his second chance at redemption.
Brian Skatell (37, Greensburg, Penn.) – A very confident player, Skatell is a self-described perfectionist and prides himself on his meticulous work ethic. A contestant on Big Break Prince Edward Island in 2008, Skatell survived more than halfway through the series, an achievement considering Skatell had a lengthy hospital stay six months prior, undergoing exploratory surgery that caused him to be more than 30 pounds underweight when the series was filmed. He believes he has more to prove on his return to Big Break Dominican Republic.
William “Football” Thompson (24, Bracey, Va.) – A fan favorite from Big Break Prince Edward Island, Thompson is the definition of country, and he knows it. Equally at home hunting deer as much as hunting birdies on the golf course, his friends call him “Football.” Thompson was the second contestant eliminated on Big Break Prince Edward Island. On this go-around, he plans to give everything he has to keep his dream alive of teeing it up on the PGA TOUR.
Lori Atsedes (46, Orlando, Fla.) – Atsedes is proud of everything she has accomplished in her long career. She has 26 professional tour wins, is the all-time career money leader on the Duramed FUTURES Tour and was a five-year member of the LPGA Tour. When it comes to her experience as a contestant on Big Break Ka’anapali in 2008, however, the topic of conversation often centered around her on-camera feud with Christina Lecuyer, which overshadowed her play on the course. It left her with a feeling of unfinished business.
Sara Brown (24, Tucson, Ariz.) – Like the rest of the contestants on Big Break Dominican Republic, Brown has unfinished business. Unlike many of her fellow competitors, Brown’s Big Break experience is still fresh in her mind. She competed on the most recent season of Big Break – Big Break Sandals Resorts – finishing in the top three.
Christina Lecuyer (27, Conway, Ark.) – When Big Break fans last saw Lecuyer in 2008, she was a first-year professional that found herself in the finals of her first LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, and was a contestant on Big Break Ka’anapali. Fast forward to 2010, and the wear and tear of traveling finally got the best of her. She quit playing golf full time. On Big Break Dominican Republic, she will test herself to see if her dream of playing on the LPGA Tour is still alive.
Brenda McLarnon (27, Charleston, S.C.) – A competitor on Big Break Prince Edward Island, McLarnon was 100 percent into golf. The Ireland native was a four-year competitor on the Duramed FUTURES Tour and lived out of her car, paycheck-to-paycheck, while trying to achieve her goal of playing on the LPGA Tour. Then she fell in love. Engaged to be married just four days before the season premiere, McLarnon’s goals and off the golf course have changed, but the dream to play on the LPGA Tour rages on.
Blair O’Neal (29, Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Prior to her appearance on Big Break Prince Edward Island, O’Neal was better known for her modeling career than her golf game. She also was in the middle of an extended leave from golf. She finished runner-up on the series, and the golf world took notice. Since then, she has hosted shows for Golf Channel, including InFuze My Game on GolfChannel.com and the premiere episode of Donald J. Trump’s Fabulous World of Golf. Now, she is back to playing full time on the Cactus Tour. She is more focused than ever and has some unfinished business on Big Break Dominican Republic.
Elena Robles (26, Redondo Beach, Calif.) – The first competitor eliminated on Big Break Sandals Resorts, Robles is excited for her second opportunity on Big Break Dominican Republic. Her experience on the series, albeit brief, was another chapter in the story about how she has returned to the game after quitting in 2008, citing burnout.
Filmed on location in June at the world-famous Casa de Campo Resort, Big Break Dominican Republic will unfold on two Pete Dye-designed courses at Casa de Campo: the Teeth of the Dog and Dye Fore. Teeth of the Dog is the number-one-ranked course in the Caribbean and 42nd in the world by Golf Magazine. Dye Fore is a picturesque and challenging course overlooking the Caribbean Sea that measures more than 7,700 yards.
For more information about Big Break Dominican Republic, visit www.GolfChannel.com/Big-Break-Dominican-Republic.
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