'Big Break Disney Golf' Winner, Cast
Big Break Disney Golf took its name from the place where it was taped: Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. The competition was taped on the resort's Magnolia and Palm courses (former sites of the PGA Tour's Disney Classic tournament).
But challenges throughout the series weren't just played on the resort golf courses — they also took place at locations around the Walt Disney World Resort itself (including Main Street U.S.A., Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex and the Walt Disney World Speedway).
Vince Cellini and Stephanie Sparks were the co-hosts for the series.
Winner of 'Big Break Disney Golf'
Mike Perez was the champion of Big Break Disney Golf. Perez faced two other competitors in the 18-hole, stroke-play championship round: Tony Finau and Kevin Erdman.Finau was at 4-under through 15 holes, leading second-place Perez by three strokes (Erdman, who finished third, was not a factor late). But Perez birdied the 16th hole. Then, on No. 17, Finau's drive hit a cart path and bounced into a lake. After a great recovery, Finau missed a 4-four putt, while Perez rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt.
That brought them level, and both made par on the 18th hole. On the first hole of the playoff, Perez won the match and the Big Break Disney Golf championship with another 25-foot birdie putt.
You can watch the final episode here:
What Perez won: The prizes for the champion included $20,000 cash, a $10,000 endorsement deal with Adams Golf, paid entry fees into the 2010 PGA Tour qualifying school, and a place in the field for the PGA Tour's 2010 Children's Miracle Network Classic tournament.
How Perez fared in his PGA Tour appearance: And how did Mike Perez do in that 2010 Children's Miracle Network Classic? He carded rounds of 76 and 70, missing the cut at 2-over 146.
Cast Members on 'Big Break Disney Golf'
This season of The Big Break franchise featured an all-male cast of 12 golfers. They are listed in the order in which they were eliminated; the info next to each golfer's name was current at the time the series aired.- Ed Moses (Hollywood, Calif.) – A gold and silver medal winner as a member of the United States swim team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. A member at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla., who once shot 64 on the course that hosts the Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational. Eliminated in Episode 1
- Andreas Huber (Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Actress Susan Lucci's son. A former Wall Street broker trying to start a golf career. Eliminated in Episode 2
- Kevan Maxwell (Charleston, S.C.) – Aspiring golf professional by day, pizza delivery man by night. Eliminated in Episode 3
- Sean Kalin (Delray Beach, Fla.) – Was a standout junior golfer, but gave up golf for 20 years after being involved in a bitter custody battle between his parents (he was kidnapped and, when 10 years old, filed a $1.5million lawsuit against his mother). Eliminated in Episode 4
- J.R. Reyes (Omaha, Neb.) – Former NJCAA All-American. Eliminated in Episode 5
- Vincent Johnson (Portland, Ore.) – Received the Charlie Sifford exemption to play in the 2009 Northern Trust Open where he flirted with making the cut in his first PGA Tour start. Eliminated in Episode 6
- Blake Moore (Monrovia, Calif.) – Friend of former Big Break competitor and PGA Tour rookie James Nitties. Eliminated in Episode 7
- Andrew Giuliani (New York, N.Y.) – Collegiate golfer going pro, and son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Eliminated in Episode 8
- Gipper Finau (Lehl, Utah) – Brother of finalist Tony Finau, turned pro at age 16. Once drove the greenon a 520-yard par-5. Eliminated in Episode 9
- Kevin Erdman (Arcadia, Calif.) – Husband of Big Break Kaanapali alum Courtney Erdman. Eliminated in Episode 10
- Tony Finau (Lehl, Utah) – Even longer off the tee than brother Gipper. Turned pro at age 17 and made a PGA Tour cut that year. Eliminated in Episode 10
- Mike Perez (Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Member on the Nationwide Tour, brother of PGA Tour winner Pat Perez. Champion of Big Break Disney Golf.
