Former Tar Heel Golfer Ashley Prange Wins The Big Break V
May 10, 2006 | Women's Golf
May 10, 2006
Chapel Hill, N.C. - Former Tar Heel golfer Ashley Prange was crowned the champion of The Golf Channel's Big Break V. Prange and Jeanne Cho, the final two contestants, fought an intense, stress-filled 18-hole match play final to decide who won all the spoils. In the end, Prange came out on top, 5 and 4, and won an exemption into the LPGA's Safeway Classic in August, an equipment endorsement from Bridgestone, a $10,000 prize package from Golfsmith and a new Chrysler Crossfire Roadster.
Prange started out the match slow as Cho drew first blood on the par-five third hole to go 1 up. However, Prange squared the match on the next hole and the two fought tooth and nail until Prange went on a tear beginning on the eighth hole. Prange won holes 8 through 11 and 13 to go 5 up and won the match on the par-four 14th hole as she nervously sank a three-foot putt for par.
"Oh my God, is this really happening. No, this is a dream," said Prange. "I was in shock, I was excited, I was happy. I was in a whirlwind. It was a million emotions in one."
The Big Break reality show concept pits highly skilled golfers against each other in a variety of challenges that test their physical skills and mental toughness. The series began February 7th with 11 contestants and one golfer has been eliminated each week. The competiton took place in Hawaii at The Palmer Course at the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's famed North Shore.
Another former Tar Heel, Kimberly Lewellen, was one of the contestants who advanced to the final four before being eliminated. Lewellen, known as Kimberly Byham when she played for Carolina 1990-93, is now the head women's golf coach at East Carolina University.
Prange played on the 2001-04 Carolina women's golf teams. She was a two-time All-America, first team in 2004 and honorable mention in 2003, and a three-time All-ACC performer, 2002, 2003, 2004. Prange captured three collegiate titles, winning the 2004 Lady Gamecock Classic, the 2004 LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic and the 2002 Mercedes-Benz Championship. She was a semi-finalist at the 2003 Women's Western Amateur Championship. Prange, who played on the Futures Tour in 2005, comes from a golfing family as her father and three of her uncles are teaching professionals.
Players Mentioned
