'Big Break Indian Wells' Winner, Cast
The series was taped (in January of 2011) at Indian Wells Golf Resort in Indian Wells, Calif., hence its name. And there was a bit of a twist to the usual Big Break competition format: In Indian Wells golfers each had $5,000 at the start, then won or lost money as the series progressed. A golfer going bust meant getting eliminated. The last man standing got everyone else's money.
Winner of 'Big Break Indian Wells'
The championship match of Big Break Indian Wells came down to two Canadians, David Byrne vs. Kent Eger. Byrne birdied the final hole of regulation to tie the match. On the playoff hole, Byrne need to make a four-foot par putt to win the hole and the match, and he did.What Byrne won: As Big Break Indian Wells champ, Byrne earned more than $70,000 in cash and prizes. But the big prize was a spot in the field at the PGA Tour's 2012 Zurich Classic tournament.
How Byrne fared in his PGA Tour appearance: And how did Byrne do in that Zurich Classic? He missed the cut. Probably nervous, a first-round 78 doomed him. He came back with a much-better 72 in the second round. Byrne's total of 150 was 6-over par and eight strokes off the cutline.
Cast Members of 'Big Break Indian Wells'
Eleven golfers, all men, made up the cast of Big Break Indian Wells. One of those was the son of World Golf Hall of Fame member Raymond Floyd. They are listed in the order in which they were eliminated; the info next to each golfer's name was current at the time the series aired.
- Petey Borja, age 25, hometown Coral Springs, Fla., college Barry University — eliminated in Episode 1
- Robert Floyd, age 35, hometown Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., college University of Florida, son of Ray Floyd — eliminated in Episode 2
- Justin Payne, age 30, hometown Floydada, Texas — Eliminated in Episode 3
- Russell Normandin, age 36, hometown Woonsocket, R.I., United States Marine Corp — Eliminated in Episode 4
- Oren Geri, age 37, hometown Herzliya, Israel — Eliminated in Episode 6
- John Lepak, age 31, hometown La Habra Heights, Calif. — Eliminated in Episode 7
- Robbie Biershenk, age 34, hometown Greenville, N.C., college Spartanburg Methodist — Eliminated in Episode 8
- Carl Whyte, age 33, hometown Green Mountain, Jamaica, college University of Maryland Eastern Shore — Eliminated in Episode 9
- Will Lowery, age 26, hometown Charlotte, N.C. — Eliminated in Episode 9
- Kent Eger, age 30, hometown Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada — Eliminated in Episode 10
- David Byrne, age 23, hometown Essex, Ontario, Canada, college University of Detroit-Mercy — Champion
