Big Break V: Hawaii Winner and Cast Members
The series was taped in October of 2005 at Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu, Hawaii. It originally aired on the Golf Channel in 13, one-hour episodes beginning on February 7, 2006. Broadcasters Vince Cellini and Stephanie Sparks were the hosts.
Winner of 'Big Break V: Hawaii'
The golfer who emerged as the champion of The Big Break V: Hawaii was Ashley Prange. She was crowned the series champion in the final episode via a match against the other finalist, Jeanne Cho. The match was scheduled for 18 holes but ended after 14, with Prange winning 5-and-4.Cho took a 1-up lead after three holes, but Prange squared the match on the following hole. The match was all square through seven holes, then Prange went ahead on the eighth and continued extending her lead from there.
What Prange won: The big prize was an exemption into the 2006 LPGA Tour Safeway Classic tournament. In addition, the winner had her Futures Tour entry fees and travel expenses covered for the remainder of the 2006 season. She also won an endorsement deal with Bridgestone Golf, a new Chrysler vehicle, a $10,000 pro shop credit, and free training with golf, fitness and mental coaches.
How she fared in her LPGA exemption: Prange missed the cut at the 2006 Safeway Classic on the LPGA Tour, shooting 77-77—154 (+10). In the end, utilizing that exemption might have cost Prange. To play the LPGA Safeway, she had to skip a Futures Tour tournament the same week. Prange wound up finishing seventh on the Futures Tour money list. Had she finished in the Top 5, she would have earned LPGA membership.
Cast Members on 'Big Break V: Hawaii'
The series cast was made up of 11 golfers, all women (seven of whom played on the Futures Tour, the LPGA's developmental circuit). They are listed here with their ages and residences at the time the series premiered.- Jeanne Cho, age 23, Orlando, Fla. Eliminated in Episode 13 (championship match).
- Divina Delasin, age 24, San Francisco, Calif. Eliminated in Episode 5.
- Nikki DiSanto, age 27, Los Angeles, Calif. Eliminated in Episode 3.
- Jo D. Duncan, age 39, St. Louis, Mo. Eliminated in Episode 1.
- Dana Lacey, age 23, Wilmington, Del. Eliminated in Episode 9.
- Kim Lewellen, age 34, Wake Forest, N.C. Eliminated in Episode 11.
- Becky Lucidi, age 25, Poway, Calif. Eliminated in Episode 10.
- Ashley Prange, age 24, Noblesville, Ind. Winner.
- Katie Ruhe, age 24, Wesley Chapel, Fla. Eliminated in Episode 4.
- Kristina Tucker, age 25, Pageland, S.C. Eliminated in Episode 7.
- Julie Wells, age 25, Portland, Ore. Eliminated in Episode 12.
Where are they today? Prange and Lewellen became college head golf coaches, Prange at Stetson and Lewellen first at Virginia and then Wake Forest. Cho became an assistant coach at Duke. Wells became a prominent golf instructor, at one time the Director of Instruction at Mission Hills Country Club and later a 2-time Player of the Year in the North Texas PGA. Lacey became a teaching pro on Hilton Head Island, S.C. (information as of 2022). See also: What ever happened to Nikki DiSanto?
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