Golfgal Golf news and commentary from a business woman’s perspective.
Tick tick tick…only 45 days left until the first episode of Big Break Disney hits the air on Tuesday, October 13th at 10 p.m. ET only on Golf Channel.
The cast is an interesting one – all male, with some “celebrities” in the mix, the brother of a PGA player and, someone I’m excited to watch – Kevin Erdman – the caddie and husband of Big Break Kaanapali contestant Courtney Erdman. I enjoyed following Courtney and Kevin at the CN Ladies event held here in the spring.
I interviewed Courtney for Inside Golf Magazine in May after the Canadian CN Event and still remember her telling me that she and Kevin were not allowed to billet together on the FUTURES Tour, even though they are married. You must be joking! Sometimes you wonder where organizers come up with these archaic rules. Luckily we have more modern views of married couples “sleeping together” in Canada – 😉 Anyway, Kevin put his own pro career on hold to support and caddie for Courntey and now it’s his turn. I sure hope he does well and I hope I’ll get to chat with him throughout the show.
Here is the rest of the cast…
Andrew Giuliani (New York, N.Y.) – Son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Donna Hanover, Andrew is looking to make a name for himself in the game of golf. Andrew actually just won his first event as a pro – the 94th Met Open Championship held on Aug. 27. Hmmm….impressive. Looks like we might see some good play from Andrew on the show. I wonder if he wins – he did get some media coverage right after the taping in July, so one would think he made a pretty good showing on the Big Break.
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, Moses’ goal is now the PGA TOUR. A member at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla., he once shot 64 on the course that hosts the TOUR’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Andreas Huber (Scottsdale, Ariz.) – Actress Susan Lucci’s son, the former Wall Street broker left the color of money to seek his fortune on the green.
Gipper Finau (Lehl, Utah) – Joins Tony as the first brother duo to play in the same Big Break series. Blessed with the long ball, Gipper, who turned professional at 16, once drove a 520-yard par 5.
Tony Finau (Lehl, Utah) – Hits the tee ball longer than his brother – or at least that is what he says in the spirit of sibling rivalry. Finau turned professional when he was 17 and made a cut on the PGA TOUR the same year.
Mike Perez (Scottsdale, Ariz.) – After playing the Nationwide Tour, Perez is looking for the chance to join brother Pat on the PGA TOUR.
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.
J.R. Reyes (Omaha, Neb.) – With tattoos covering each arm, Reyes is not your typical golfer. While not looking the part, he has the talent to fit in on the PGA TOUR.
Kevan Maxwell (Charleston, S.C.) – Aspiring golf professional by day, pizza delivery man by night, “K-Max” will do whatever it takes to play on the PGA TOUR.
Blake Moore (Monrovia, Calif.) – Friend of former Big Break competitor and PGA TOUR rookie James Nitties, Moore is a threat to win Big Break Disney Golf if he can control his inner demons.
Sean Kalin (Delray Beach, Fla.) – A junior standout who gave up golf for 20 years after being kidnapped, he is looking for a second chance in the game.
I’m really happy to see Vince Cellini and Stephanie Sparks hosting the series – although I have always liked Stina and thought Charlie did a great job on Big Break PEI.
I hope you will join me each week when I interview some of the contestants. I am not sure who I should interview yet – any recommendations?
Golfgal
You know me, Gayle. I like the girls, but I will tun in to the new Big Break,
Dave A.
If you interview the Finaus, you could get two for the price of one…
And I agree about Charlie, too. He’s almost an antihost, he’s so relaxed.
Big Break is a good show, but I wish they would edit out some of the commentary, it just makes it seem so contrived on occasion.
single golf clubs
selecting single
golf clubs
No girlie, no watchee!
Er…kidnapped?
It’s like the Pick Six when you’re stuck in a particular race: Play all of them.
Twelve interviews per week shouldn’t be taxing. I can space it out, listening to 2 or 3 per day. 🙂
Hey Awsi! Good to hear from you. Hope you had a great summer.
How about you do 6 interviews and I’ll do 6 – I’ll read yours and you read mine. Sounds like a good deal to me!
Cheers!
Gayle
Gayle, actually I had a major car accident, unsecured table flying off a trailer smack in front of me on I-95 in southern Georgia. Chain reaction with another vehicle. Yikes. I was very lucky, car and camper totaled but I’m slowly okay. My face scared kids for a while. 🙂
I was never a popular interviewer, LOL. USC football coach John Robinson walked out of his office one day, smack in the middle of our interview while annoyed at a recruiting question, and never came back. I had my feet propped up on his desk for 20 minutes before the secretary peaked her head in the door and said, “I think you better leave.”
You’re the master. Just pick a good blend of contenders, articulate mediocrities, and jerks.
Oh my, Awsi! That’s horrible. I am so happy to hear you are okay. That must have been very scary.
Sounds like JR is a bit of a jerk. I love how you sat there in his office. haha…
Is there someone you’d like me to interview based on this min info we have on them? I can always ask GC to make some introductions for me.
Take care!
I am the mother of Sean. It is too bad that he has chosen to use such a cruel story (which is not true) to enhance his career. His stepfather gave this gift that he now cherishes and I simply did what any mother would do who had her son ripped from her life. I wish it had turned out better but I wish him luck.
Can someone clarify, prove or disprove this story about Sean Kalin? His mom is saying that it is not true. I would like to give them both the benefit of the doubt.
Did the mom and stepdad make him practice everyday for several years (as a child)? If so, that would be considered child abuse.
It’s different if you have the desire and the parents are supporting you in this endeavor. However, if Sean was made to practice obscessive compulsively (because of one or both parents), that is such a shame. If that was the case then, I will root for Sean and shame on parents for living vicariousl through their children to build up their own egos. Please clarify this situation.
Thanks.
P.S.
If what Sean is claiming is untrue, as his mother has stated, then that’s a terrible thing to do to your mother and stepdad.
Pretty hard to prove either side as Sean and his mom have both stated quite clearly their positions. It’s a sad story no matter who was right though, don’t you think?