'Big Break Prince Edward Island'

Big Break Prince Edward Island logo
Big Break Prince Edward Island was the name off the 11th season of the Golf Channel competition show The Big Break. The series aired in 11 episodes beginning in April of 2009. It was also known as Big Break PEI.

The series was taped at Mill River Golf Course in O'Leary, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and featured a cast of 12 golfers (six men, six women). The hosts were Charlie Rymer and Stina Sternberg.

The winner of Big Break PEI received cold, hard cash: $100,000.

'Big Break PEI' Cast Members

Here are the 12 golfers (with age and place of residence at the time the series was taped) who comprised the cast of Big Break Prince Edward Island:
  • Kim Kouwabunpat, 27, Upland, Calif.
  • Caroline Larsson, 24, Orlando, Fla.
  • Brenda McLarnon, 25, Charleston, S.C.
  • Gerina Mendoza, 23, Roswell, N.M.
  • Blair O'Neal, 27, Tempe, Ariz.
  • Nicole Sikora, 25, Yonkers, N.Y.
  • Derek Gillespie, 30, Oshawa, Ontario
  • Robert Read, 30, Seekonk, Mass.
  • Eugene Smith, 30, Glen Ridge, N.J.
  • Brian Skatell, 36, Virginia Beach, Va.
  • William Thompson, 22, Bracey, Va.
  • Aaron Wright, 31, Orlando, Fla.

Who Won 'Big Break Prince Edward Island'?

Big Break PEI came down to a final four of Derek Gillespie, Gerina Mendoza, Brenda McLarnon and Blair O'Neal.

First, Gillespie and Mendoza played a two-hole elimination playoff, which Gillespie won by one stroke. Then, Gillespie, McLarnon and O'Neal played nine holes, with the high-scorer eliminated. That high-scorer was McLarnon, who finished at 3-over, with O'Neal at 1-over and Gillespie at 1-under.

That left Gillespie and O'Neal, who played another nine holes for the championship. And at the end, Gillespie won by three strokes, finishing 1-under to O'Neal's 2-over.

Derek Gillespie was champion of Big Break Prince Edward Island.

Where Are They Now?

We can't update all the cast members of Big Break PEI, but we can tell you that the show's Final Four all have gone on to successful careers in golf. At least a couple of them are famous today.

The third runner-up, Gerina Mendoza, is an LPGA Tour player and Solheim Cupper. Don't recognize her name? She's married to Korn Ferry Tour member and PGA Tour golfer Martin Piller, and today much better known as Gerina Piller.

The second runner-up, Brenda McLarnon, is today known as Brenda Barb and is an LPGA teaching pro.

Blair O'Neal, who finished second, continued her modeling career, appeared in ad campaigns for both Cobra Golf and PXG, played tournaments (including celebrity tournaments), and began appearing in other capacities on the Golf Channel. She eventually became a regular on the network as an instructor and host. In 2020, O'Neal had her first baby.

And champ Derek Gillespie continues to pursue his PGA Tour dream. As of 2020, he was a member of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica.

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