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 “The Big Break III: Ladies Only,” shot on location at the Kingsmill Resort & Spa in Virginia, begins February 8 and pits 10 women against each other in a variety of skill challenges. One player will be eliminated each week, with the eventual winner earning an opportunity to play in select LPGA events. Southern California has four contestants in the field. Some have made golf their career, while others have moved on to “real jobs.” As with other reality shows, the competition has been held but lips remain sealed about the outcome. We did, however, get the area foursome to tell us a little bit about themselves. Danielle Amiee Age: 28 Residence: Newport Beach College: Long Beach State How did you come to apply for The Big Break III? A few of my friends told me about it and thought I should apply. I didn’t pay too much attention, and then the producers were at one of the events on the Futures Tour interviewing for the show. They interviewed all of us playing that week and next thing I know they called me. So, you play on the Futures Tour? Actually, I only played two events last year, and I figured being on “The Big Break III” was meant to be if they were there the day I happened to be playing. I plan to play a full schedule in 2005 on the Futures Tour. How was it competing on The Big Break III? It was the hardest thing I have ever done in golf. It was a lot of fun but also a lot of work. Basically you have one chance to make a good shot or you go home. There are also a lot of people around and everything you do is on camera. You have to have a lot of mind control and know how to handle yourself in every situation. We never knew what was coming. There were no scripts. We went out each day, had a brief warm up and then we were on. Have you always dreamed of playing on the LPGA Tour? Out of college I was motivated to turn pro. You have to be ready, though and I’m not sure I was. Being alone, all of the travel and the high level of competition is really intense. I went to Q School in 2003 and missed by a couple of shots. What does the future hold? I’m at a good place now. I have great support and I’m ready to play. I’m working on my game with a teacher for the first time and if I can secure some sponsors I hope to make it to Q School in 2005 and play on tour. I plan to give it at least one more good year and see where it takes me. In the past I haven’t devoted all my time to it, and you cannot make it if you don’t give it all you got. Felicia Brown Age: 28 Residence: Redondo Beach College: Alabama State University How did you end up on The Big Break III? A friend of mine told me about it. She e-mailed the application and told me I had to do it. The application was long and I didn’t have time. I also thought they would never call me. I am not a pro and haven’t earned a penny playing golf. Then, they called me. I was shocked. They told me that it was 50 percent golf and 50 percent personality and I think they saw the personality in my application. How did you become interested in golf? I wanted to be with my dad and he liked to play golf. I ended up playing with him and we would hustle the other guys earning me money for candy. It was great. I played in some junior events and my friends helped me out by acting interested in golf so we could form a high school team. Basically they did it so I could play. You’re an amateur. Did you ever aspire to play professionally? I always thought it would be great to turn pro but there was never an outlet for me to go and practice. I married in college and we had bills to pay. I have a child. I had to work. We moved from Alabama to Ohio where it is too cold to play golf, so I didn’t play much for several years. It wasn’t until we came back to California that I started playing again. What was the experience on the show like? It was nothing like what I thought. I did more in two weeks than I have done in my entire life. It was great. It’s a great test of golf, but not what I could call a true test. I don’t look at golf as a one-shot game, but here you either make the shot or you’re out. You also have to understand that my equipment is old and I wasn’t able to go out and buy new clothes. I don’t have manufacturers giving me new equipment and merchandise like some of the others. I took what I have and made it work. What about the future for you? I will never stop shooting for the tour. I don’t just want to be a pro, though. I want to be the Tiger Woods of the LPGA Tour — he biggest name on tour. I’m working hard toward that and I hope that maybe someone will see me and say, she’s got it. I often wonder what if? What if I had the latest, greatest equipment? What if I had the best teachers? What if I didn’t have to worry about paying the bills? Tasha Browner Age: 24 Residence: Tarzana College: Washington State University How did you get on The Big Break III? I don’t really know why I got picked. A dear friend of mine tried out for the first two and when she heard this was an all-female edition she encouraged me to apply with her. I got picked and that was that. What was the experience like? It was a blast. I learned more about pressure during those weeks than I have during my golf career, and I have played in a lot of tournaments. The group of girls was great, and I’m still in contact with most of them. We didn’t get a lot of time to prepare or warm up, so that was tough. But the experience was great and I learned a lot. Do you think it was a true test of golf? I’m not sure it was a true test. After all, how many times in your career do you have to hit over a wall or through a boat? It was more of a pressure test, I would say. There were people everywhere watching your every move. I have played in one LPGA event and the feeling of having a lot of people around, kids asking for your autograph, cameras rolling was similar to that of being a tour player. How did you become interested in golf? My dad got me into it. I have always been an athlete and played team sports. When I was 13 my dad suggested I try golf, and I was hooked. It was the first individual sport I had played and I loved it. I played in my first tournament at 15 and realized that I could get a college scholarship if I stuck with it. It was great. What does your future hold? Having had a taste of what it’s like playing on the LPGA Tour, I really want to get there. I’m recovering from a back strain and working very hard six days a week to get healthy. I have a great job at El Caballero Country Club, and I recently got my LPGA teaching card. I’m going to play on the West Coast Ladies Golf Tour and go to Q School in 2005. I’m going to give it several more years and see what happens. I see my future in the golf industry either as a player, a journalist or maybe even a clothing designer. Debbie Dahmer Age: 41 Residence: Escondido College: UC San Diego How did you get on the show? I had seen that they were having a ladies’ version and thought it would be fun. The problem was they had no California auditions, so I called and e-mailed The Golf Channel. They finally decided I had a good idea and held an audition at Moorpark. I was caddying in Lake Tahoe the day prior so I had to fly in, drive to the course and try out, which was a pain. It all worked out though. You appear to be one of the oldest that made it. How did that feel? Actually, I’m the second oldest. It was nice of Cindy Miller to take the crown of the oldest. It seems that I have always been the oldest when it comes to golf. I didn’t start playing until I was 28. I was 31 when I competed in my first tournament, and I played with girls who were 17. I did come in second place in my flight, however. I grew up with a basketball in my hands, not a golf club, so I started late. Being older, though, I feel that I had more mental toughness and experience than some of the others. I had seen the red carpet treatment on the tour as a caddy and, while I enjoyed and appreciated everything they were doing for us, I don’t think it overwhelmed me as much. What was the experience like? It was awesome. The pressure was intense. I think it was a lot harder than being in a tournament because there was no way to recover from a bad shot. If you miss the shot, you are gone. It was anyone’s game to win, and that made it fun. What does your future look like? I’m a businesswoman. As much as I would have liked to play on the LPGA Tour, the numbers don’t really work for me. I started too late. I’m getting involved in real estate as well, and I hope to continue to play golf professionally even if it isn’t on the LPGA. I also want to get my LPGA teaching card, and I hope to continue caddying. I want to stay around golf. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s like a family out there. n |
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