Denny Hepler - "Big Break VI" Contestant

Birthdate: June 15, 1955
Residence: Warsaw, Ind.
Hometown: Warsaw, Ind.
Occupation: PGA Golf Professional/Course Owner
Marital Status/Children: Married/3
Hobbies: Family, basketball officiating and racing

Home Golf Course: Raccoon Run Golf Club, Warsaw, Ind.
Collegiate Golf Experience: Ball State University/Florida State University
Strongest Part of Game: Chipping
Favorite Club: Wedge
Dream Foursome: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson

Denny's golf career is best characterized as persistent. He earned his PGA Tour card on his ninth attempt at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, but couldn't keep it. He returned to the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament for the tenth time, where he recaptured his playing privileges.

Before playing the Tour in 1985-86, he played all over the world. While chasing his PGA Tour dream, he pursued his golf career with his buddy, the late Payne Stewart. He lists the three-time major winner as his hero in golf and was one of the few people who were at both Stewart's wedding and funeral.

The high point of his career came in 1982 when he won the Malaysian Open. He has competed in four U.S. Opens, four PGA Championships and one British Open. After losing his card, he returned home and bought a nine-hole golf course that he renovated by himself to an 18-hole layout.

For all Denny's accomplishments in golf, he is a member of the Indiana Golf Foundation Hall of Fame. Besides running his golf course, Raccoon Run Golf Club, he works as a small college and high school basketball official.

Denny was a member of Mark Dismore's pit crew at the Indy 500 from 1999-2001. He started playing golf when he was in the eighth grade when he became intrigued by his math teacher swinging a yardstick in class.

Source: The Golf Channel; used with permission