This week’s Big Break started out with one on one competitions for the remaining six competitors. Overall points leader, Lori Stinkeye Atsedes got to choose her competitor. Lori chose Kim thinking it would come down to putting in the end. Sophie chose Christina as she wanted a little revenge. Apparently, Christina had gotten the best of her previously. That left Samantha and Susan to duel it out.
The first station consisted of hitting the ball onto a grid in the fairway. The grid started at 150 and ended at 200 yards. If you didn’t hit it in in four shots, you were given a five. Lori and Kim hit it in in one. Samantha took two and Susan took one. Sophie needed one while Christina needed several (either three or four – memory is fading here).
From there, they went to the second station – a 160 yard shot to the green. Lori again took one shot. Kim took four. Susan needed three shots to get it on the green. Samantha took two shots to get it on. I believe Sophie nailed it in one shot and Christina may have done the same.
The last station was an 18 foot putt. Kim needed to make the putt in two shots or better but missed both. She was headed to elimination. Christina had a similar task and couldn’t do it. Susan made her putt in two tries and Samantha couldn’t match or better that.
Samantha, Christina and Kim fought it out in this week’s elimination round. Elimination consisted of three holes of golf under a modified scoring system. Eagles were worth +5, birdies +3, pars +1, bogies -1 and double bogies and worse -3. All players were tied after parring the first two holes (a par 4 and a par 5).
Kim uncorked a monster drive and birdied the third hole while the others parred. Kim survived another elimination round while Christina and Samantha replayed the hole to determine who would leave The Big Break. Both hit good drives. Christina put her approach on the green for about a 20 footer for birdie. Samantha tanked her second and was left with a 40 yard pitch shot. Amazingly, Samantha almost holed it for a birdie. She tapped in for par, and Christina two putted for par.
They replayed the hole yet again. Both hit nice drives on the fairway again. Samantha hit first and put her shot past the hole and was left with an uphill putt. Christina put her approach on the green but short of the flag. She was left with a downhill putt. Samantha putted first and left it about 5 feet short. Christina stepped up and started her putt on line. It tracked to the hole and she dunked it for birdie and was on to the next show. She didn’t have much of a fan club, but the remaining contestants have got to respect her now. What a putt!
Turns out, the two of them actually replayed the hole 4 times (so 5 times in total). I guess Samantha can’t be too disappointed. She had 5 shots at it. Check out the golf channel’s blog for details. You’ll also see Stinkeye’s effort to save face as she also writes a weekly blog.
Samantha may have been the classiest competitor on the show. It was a shame to see her go. She played tough! More later.
Well I can still do the new player rankings before hitting the sack:
Now for player rankings after week 8 (week 7 ranking in parens):
5 (5) – Lori “Stinkeye” Atsedes – talks a Don Donatello game and suffers from the same flaw – overconfidence. Got lucky that Kim got nervous. Has she been in an elimination yet? When she gets in one, will she choke?
4 (2) – Christina “The Cocky Kanuke” Lecuyer moves down two spots. She sank a long birdie putt to stay in the competition but that swing can’t hold up under pressure. It’s too loose.
3 (6) Susan “Dippin’ Dots” Choi – Sophie was scared to play her and she whacked Samantha. We’ve got to give her more respect.
1 (1) – Kim “Here Kitty, Kitty” Welch has to share the numero uno spot after Stinkeye trounced her. Plus why hit a 4 iron into a par 5? Poor decision-making and putting is killing her.
1 (3) – “Sexy” Sophie Sandolo easily vanquished Christina. Where do we put her? Back on top? – except she was scared to play Susan. She’ll share the top spot with Kitty Welch.