What Ever Happened to Kim Welch of Big Break Ka'anapali?
Where is Kim Welch today? Welch was the champion of Season 9 of the Golf Channel series, The Big Break. That season, which was named Big Break Ka'anapali, ended with Welch winning the title in the 18-hole championship match.
Today, Welch remains a touring professional and also represents the club where Big Break Ka'anapali took place. In the intervening years, Welch has held both LPGA Tour and Symetra Tour status.
Before Big Break, and Winning Big Break Ka'anapali
Before we write more about what Kim Welch is doing today, let's take a quick look back at her star turn on Big Break Ka'anapali — and what came before.Welch was a college golf star at Washington State University, where she won 11 tournaments and had 29 Top 10 finishes in her years there. She turned pro in 2005, and played on the Symetra Tour in 2006 and 2007, finishing 21st on the money list in 2007.
In late 2007, Welch was announced as a cast member on Big Break Ka'anapali. She was 25 years old at the time of taping. And that season of The Big Break began airing on April 15, 2008. When the season finale aired, it featured the championship match between Welch and Ladies European Tour member Sophie Sandolo, a match that Welch won, 4 and 3, to earn the championship.
Related: What ever happened to Sophie Sandolo of Big Break Ka'anapali?
In the year her season of The Big Break aired, 2008, Welch had her highest career finish on the Symetra Tour money list of 10th, and won her (so far) only Symetra Tour title at the Alliance Bank Golf Classic.
Where Kim Welch Is Today
Today, Welch continues playing tournament golf on both the Symetra Tour and in other professional tournaments (such as state opens and mini-tours) in the United States. As of 2020, Welch had no status on the LPGA Tour, but partial status on the Symetra Tour.She also represents Ka'anapali Golf Resort, the club in Hawaii where she won Big Break Ka'anapali, as its touring pro.
Welch had limited status on the LPGA Tour from 2009 through 2012, making as many as 10 starts in the 2010 season. In other years, she has played primarily on the Symetra Tour, and in a couple years she played the Ladies European Tour. In 2017 she finished 18th on the Symetra Tour money list, in 2018 58th.
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