Big Break PEI Finale: Gillespie Grabs the Gold!

Wow! $100,000 for 14 days work!

Hard work, mind you, and definitely work that required years of training and practice, but still...that's a lot of do re me! And in US $ too!

Congratulations Derek!!!!

It almost feels like a first place purse at a PGA Tournament - NOT! Need at least 1 more zero to come close to that. :)

But something tells me that Derek is going to hit the big leagues very soon. This is just a taste of what is to come. He's got game, he's got guts and now he's got the gold!

It seems like only yesterday that I talked to Derek before Big Break PEI even aired, for a "20 questions" interview for Inside Golf Magazine. Being the only Canadian, I thought it would be cool to let Canadian IG readers know about the only Canuck in the mix. Little did I know that he would go home the champion. I'll say it again...Well done Derek!

Last week after watching Blair play the first 9, I started to believe it was anyone's championship. And then after Blair's amazing birdie on the 10th hole, I think more than a few people were wondering if it was time for the underdog to win. But as Blair said...she played her best, but it wasn't quite good enough. Derek played better. Derek deserved to win.

But Blair never gave up - her putt on 12 showed that. As Stina said, Blair had nerves of steel after 3 putting the previous green. It was so great to see her battle to the very end. Her composure was amazing.

Before we get into the interviews this week, I want to share with you my three part series on Rodd Mill River, home of Big Break PEI. I had such a wonderful time playing there and after seeing the contestants play the 18 holes over two weeks, I felt like I had walked the fairways with them. I hope you enjoy them and give PEI and its 30 golf courses a try for yourselves. It is a golfer's playground...

Golfgal's Excellent Big Break PEI Adventure - The Resort
Golfgal's Excellent Big Break PEI Adventure - Mill River Golf Course - Front Nine
Golfgal's Excellent Big Break PEI Adventure - Mill River Golf Course - Back Nine

I started tonight with Michael Michaelides from Big Break X. He had some very interesting comments about playing it safe versus playing it smart when I asked him about Blair's remarks on 15...



Next up was Brian. He gave me some insights into that day and the players, but mostly he left me with a better understand of what it means to be a big breaker, what he learned from the experience, what he would do differently if given the chance again, and how much he cares for the people he came to know over the 2 weeks.

Brian may have appeared to be "The Villian", but he is actually a big softie with a big heart. I hope he does well in his chosen career as a pro golfer. His website BrianSkatellgolf.com should be live soon - be sure to check back for that.

Well, the man of the hour had a busy night being on a live chat session with the Golf Channel. They said it was supposed to be half an hour, but it's almost 2 hrs later and Derek's still there answering questions. That's impressive. But what really impressed me was that he still made time for our weekly interview. Money hasn't gone to this champ's head...

Wow, pretty cool about the Nationwide event and that sponsor exemption from Mr. 99 himself. Very very cool!

Caught up with Blair today - my what a busy woman she is! She may not have won the $100K, but something tells me Blair is about to find her own big break as a result of her strong performance on the show...

I hope Blair enjoys her week at the 5 star Rodd Crowbush Golf and Beach Resort. With all the events and travel she's been doing, I bet she'll need the rest and that's a great place to relax and enjoy 5 star pampering. I just finished up my article on that golf course/resort and will publish it later in July. The Links at Crowbush is a "must try" experience - it looks like it was plucked straight out of Ireland.

Well, it's time to say goodbye. I want to thank all the contestants who took the time to chat each week with me. What a great bunch of people! I can't wait to do it again for Big Break 12. I think it's time for another reunion don't you?

In closing, a big congratulations goes out again to Derek! And Brian shared in his interview, "The right person won."

Golfgal

Swinging at Sahalee - Home of the 2010 Senior Men’s US Open Golf Championship

In 1998, Sahalee Golf and Country Club was the host of 80th PGA Championship, where Vijay Singh won his first major championship. The players must have loved the course because it was scheduled to host that major again in 2010. Unfortunately the honor was snatched from Sahalee by the PGA when it sited corporate conflict with the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010 as a potential risk for the tournament. The PGA moved the major to Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. How short sighted! Thank goodness, the USGA has more vision.

In 2010, Sahalee will host the 31st Senior Men’s US Open, July 26 – Aug 1, 2010, bringing an estimated $30M to the region. I recently attended the 2010 U.S. Senior Open Press Conference & Golf Outing at Sahalee where Tim Flaherty, Director of U.S. Senior Open & U.S. Amateur Championships, and the Sahalee Management outlined the plans for the event.

It was worth the 3 hour drive for two reasons:

1. I was able to get the inside scoop on the event and a very special offer being made by USGA that will make you sit up and take notice.


2. I had the pleasure of playing one of the best golf courses in all of Washington State.

What a great day I had! I can’t wait for next year’s major. More than 125,000 golf fans are expected to attend the U.S. Senior Open next year; I’ll be among them. I published a 2 part article to share with you and the Inside Golf Magazine readers my enthusiasm:

· Part 1: USGA Can see the forest for the trees - PGA NOT!
· Part 2: Swinging at Sahalee – Golfgal’s golf course review

And here’s the “never before offered deal” from the USGA: For those spectators who buy their tickets online or by phone (877-218-OPEN) before the end of June 2009, they will be guaranteed entry into the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

So…why is this a great deal? Well, because, the USGA sells US Open tickets by lottery and have sold out every year for the past 23 years. The chances of getting tickets to the 2015 major at Chambers Bay are slim if you go the lottery route, but by buying tickets to the Senior Open now, you are guaranteed advance opportunity to purchase Chambers Bay US Open tickets before the lottery is held.

I already have my tickets – only 1 week left for you to get in on this great deal.

Sahalee Golf Course is majestic. You almost feel like you’re in Mother Nature’s cathedral. It’s one of the quietest and most beautiful courses I’ve ever played. It is most definitely High Heavenly Ground.

I can’t wait to see my favorite Champions like Freddie Couples play it next year!

Golfgal

Big Break PEI Episode 10 - Bye Bye Brenda

Well, tonight we bid a fond, but sad farewell to a talented and very entertaining contestant on Big Break PEI -- Brenda "Sorry Mommy and Daddy" McLarnon.

I have enjoyed watching Brenda hit some clutch shots throughout the series to save herself from elmination and thought that tonight, right until the last hole when she was only down by 1, that she just might do it again. But such was not the case.

Brenda is the first one to admit that her game wasn't on par that sunny day on PEI and that nerves played a big part in her coming up short. But she is a real trooper and her disappointment watching tonight's episode didn't get in the way of her being gracious as always with me - one again, Brenda was the first one ready for our weekly interviews right after the show...






Thanks Brenda for making me laugh so much every week. I'll miss our chats, but I hope you'll join me next week for a closing interview about the final show and add some levity to what should be a very serious match of skills and wills.

I had a chance to catch Derek tonight as he landed in Calgary. He didn't get to watch the episode, but he remembered it well. He particularly remembered the 7th hole - the signature 417 par 4 that is not only beautiful...but deadly!





Speaking of the Rodd Mill River Golf Course, Part One of my article on the Big Break PEI venue was published on Inside Golf today. I did quite a long review of that resort and golf course (hmmm...maybe a tad too long ;)), so my editor has split it into three parts - the first today, the next part on Wed and the final part next Monday just before the final show. I'll be sure to share 3 links in next week's post so you can walk with me through the same holes the BB'ers travelled.

Here's a shot of the signature par 4 7th.

Next up, Michael Michaelides from Big Break X. Michael had some great commentary on the show and gave me some insights on how tee positions are set up for men and women in college (NCAA), the LPGA and the PGA. Some people think the men and women should be hitting from the same tee box when competing with each other. Listen to what Michael thinks of that...





Haha...thanks Michael! Well, you definitely sold me!

Road warrior Blair O'Neal joined me today to talk about the show, although in her busy travels she hasn't had a chance to see it. However, I had no doubt that friends and family were txting her like crazy over the episode and she probably got the whole picture from them.

Well, only 1 more episode and then we get to watch someone walk away with 100 grand in their pockets! Wow...that number looks bigger all the time, doesn't it? I can't wait to see how Blair and Derek manage their games next week after their amazing demonstations today. Will the pressure get to either of them as it did with Brenda today?

I think Brenda put it beautifully when she said tonight, "Giggle golf is over." Yup... I don't see anyone laughing next week, unless it's all the way to the bank!

Golfgal