Emily Talley had to keep the secret for six months, but on Tuesday night viewers learned that the former University of Colorado golfer won the Big Break NFL competition that was filmed in Puerto Rico in June.
In teaming with Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice and Isaac Sanchez to beat a trio led by Chris Doleman in Tuesday’s season finale on the Golf Channel, Talley earned $50,000 and a spot in the 2014 ShopRite LPGA Classic, set for Galloway, N.J., May 30-June 1.
The part-time Boulder resident made an 18-inch putt to clinch the victory for “Team Rice”.
“It’s amazing when things come down to a (short putt like that),” Talley said following the finale of the golf skills challenge competition. “It’s thrilling. I can’t believe this just happened. To get this done is such a momentous moment for me. … This is so cool.”
Talley, who also competed on Golf Channel’s Big Break Mexico earlier this year, is a regular on the Symetra Tour, where she finished 45th on the 2013 money list. Talley placed fourth in the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open in September.
Besides the $50,000 and the Shoprite LPGA exemption for winning Big Break NFL, Talley receives an endorsement contract from Adams Golf, which includes $10,000 in cash, and a four-day, three-night stay for two at the Dorado Beach Plantation Village in Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico.
As Talley said in an interview with COgolf.org in September, the Big Break series was invaluable for her.
“It was a good learning experience because you’re starting to get attention,” said Talley, a former California Women’s Amateur champion. “People are going to follow you that you don’t know who they are. That’s a good thing to practice — being able to play golf in front of people and not so much worry about what they think about you or your golf game. You can’t let that stuff bother you. It’s been a really good learning experience for that, attention-wise.
“And then it’s fun because no one really cares about women’s golf — especially at our level. Maybe LPGA, but Symetra Tour, not really. So having a name that’s recognized in the golfing world just because of that is really helpful in getting sponsors and getting invited to pro-ams. Those are really lucrative opportunities for me. That’s how we make our money on the mini tours, at least for now.”
