The identities of the contestants for "Big Break: Kaanapali," the next installment of the Golf Channel's popular series, were revealed in an episode of "Golf With Style" that aired on Friday, Dec. 21. Here are the 12 golfers who make up the cast of "Big Break: Kaanapali," along with a little info about each that I've been able to dig up. These thumbnails will be updated when more information is made available by the Golf Channel.
Lori Atsedes
A longtime member of the Futures Tour - she is No. 2 on the career money list - Atsedes has always fared well on that circuit. And in several seasons, she's been so good that she moved up to the LPGA Tour. Atsedes was an LPGA Tour member in 1998 through 2001, and again in 2003. She has won seven Futures Tour tournaments since turning pro in 1987, and also has 17 wins on the Florida Sunshine Tour and two victories on the Central Florida Challenge Tour. Atsedes has finished in the Top 10 on the Futures Tour money list three times, including a second-place finish in 1996. In 2007, she made the cut in 18 of 19 Futures Tour events, had one win, and finished 18th on money list.
Dana Bates
Bates is a teaching professional who has previously appeared on Golf For Women magazine's list of the Top 50 female instructors. In 2004, Bates won the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Western Section Championship.
Susan Choi
Choi played collegiately at Division III Wellesley, where she wracked up a slew of victories and cracked the Top 40 in Golfweek's rankings of women amateurs (a rarity for a Division III golfer). Among her amateur events in 2007, Choi, partnered with Angel Sze, won the Women's International Four-Ball Championship in Hollywood, Fla., and was low amateur in the Massachussetts Women's Open.
Courtney Erdman
After graduating from College of the Canyons, Erdman turned pro in 2006 and made the cut in 8 of 18 Futures Tour tournaments. In 2007, she improved to 10 cuts in 15 events, with a best finish of third, and finished 45th on the Futures Tour money list.
Adrienne Gautreaux
Gautreaux turned pro in 2004 after playing collegiately at the University of South Carolina. She has spent all or part of the past four years playing the Futures Tour, with a high finish of fourth.
Samantha Head
One of the more accomplished players in the cast, Head has played professionally since 1995 and has two victories on the Ladies European Tour: the 1999 Ladies Italian Open and 2001 South African Open. Four times she has finished in the Top 25 on the LET Order of Merit - 1999 (21st), 2000 (10th), 2001 (14th) and 2003 (23rd). Head has had exempt status on the LET for more than a decade, but also spent three years (2003-05) playing primarily on the Japan LPGA, where she recorded numerous Top 10 finishes. In 2006, she played 14 times on the Futures Tour with five Top 10 finishes. Her twin sister Johanna is a member of the LPGA Tour.
Christina LeCuyer
LeCuyer played college golf at Central Arkansas. In 2007, she played mostly on the Cactus Tour, posting numerous Top 10 finishes. She has also played some on the Canadian Women's Tour and on the Futures Tour.
Tina Miller
Miller won seven times in college at the University of Miami, including the 2003 Big East Championship. She turned pro in 2005. In 2006, Miller made 12 cuts in 15 tries on the Futures Tour with a best showing of fourth. In 2007, she made four cuts in 12 tournaments. Miller also models, including an appearance in the "2008 Golf Digest World Ladies Calendar" published by Golf Digest Japan.
Sophie Sandolo
Probably best-known for her racy calendars - some of which include nudity - Sandolo has been a fully exempt member of the Ladies European Tour since 2000. While she has not yet won an LET event, she has 15 Top 10 finishes and has placed as high as 15th on the money list. Her best finish of 2007 was eighth at the Tenerife Ladies Open. Sandolo played college golf for UCLA and won the European Amateur Championship in 1999.
Cirbie Sheppard
Not much info available about Sheppard on the Web - we'll have to wait for the Golf Channel's bio to find out more about her. She played at Sierra College and had two poor showings on the Cactus Tour in 2007. She appears to have the "wild and crazy" role in this cast.
Elizabeth Stuart
Stuart has a unique distinction in golf: She is the first golfer to go through the First Tee junior program and later join a professional golf tour. Stuart turned pro in 2006, making 8 of 16 cuts on the Futures Tour. In 2007, she made 8 of 19 cuts with a best finish of 13th.
Kim Welch
A power in college, Welch won 11 tournaments and posted 29 Top 10 finishes while at Washington State University. She was All-American in 2003 and turned pro in 2005. In 2006, Welch made 8 of 15 cuts on the Futures Tour. In 2007, she made 15 of 19 cuts with a best finish of third, five Top 10 finishes, and was 21st on the money list. She has also competed in the Re/Max World Long Drive Championship.
