The field of 40 at the Big Break Invitational Reynolds Lake Oconee has been narrowed to 12 for Friday’s final round of play after six men and six women advanced from today’s third round of match play at the Great Waters Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee. Friday’s final round will feature 18-holes of stroke play, with the remaining players competing for a $300,000 purse and $100,000 going to the winner. The top-eight finishers on Friday also will receive an automatic invitation to the 2015 Big Break Invitational Reynolds Lake Oconee. Friday’s tee times have been moved up due to impending inclement weather, with the first tee time going off at 8:30 a.m. ET. Coverage will air on Golf Channel on tape delay beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
MATCH PLAY HIGHLIGHTS: In one of the bigger upsets of the day, Mallory Blackwelder (Big Break Ireland, Big Break NFL Puerto Rico) defeated Ryann O’Toole 3 up in a hard fought match. Blackwelder got married last Friday to Julien Trudeau, her fellow competitor on Big Break Ireland. After failing to make the cut in the men’s division, Trudeau – who caddies full time on the PGA TOUR for Graham DeLaet – carried the bag for his wife in today’s round and will caddie for her again during Friday’s final round.
Hugo Leon (Big Break X: Michigan) made the biggest comeback of the day after going 5 down after six holes to David Byrne (Big Break Indian Wells, Champion). Leon went 5-under on his final 12 holes in staging his comeback before closing out the match with a par on 18 to finish 2 up.
Tommy Gainey (Big Break VII: Reunion, Champion, Big Break IV: USA vs. Europe) birdied five of his final eight holes on the back nine to defeat Kent Eger (Big Break Indian Wells) 2&1.
Gerina Piller (Big Break Prince Edward Island) took an early lead and did not let up en route to a 6 up victory over Stefanie Kenoyer (Big Break Mexico, Big Break NFL Puerto Rico).
Tony Finau (Big Break Disney Golf) defeated Justin Peters (Big Break I, Champion) 3&1 after making birdie on two of his final three holes to close out the match.
Jay Woodson (Big Break Mexico) gained the early momentum on the front nine after an opening bogey en route to a 5&4 victory over Mark Murphy (Big Break Ireland, Champion).
Jackie Stoelting (Big Break Florida, Champion) opened up the action with an intense match against fellow Symetra Tour pro Elena Robles (Big Break Sandals Resorts, Big Break Dominican Republic). The opening match went to 20 holes before Stoelting was finally able to close out the match 1 up.
Brent Long (Big Break Mexico) defeated Mark Silvers (Big Break Greenbrier, Champion) 1 up in a back-and-forth match. All-Square through 14 holes, Long birdied two of his final four holes to close out the match with Silvers.
Sara Brown (Big Break Sandals Resorts and Big Break Dominican Republic) defeated Kristy McPherson (Big Break VI: Trump National) 2 up after making a 15-foot putt on 18 to close out the match.
Derek Gillespie (Big Break Prince Edward Island, Champion) defeated Brian Cooper (Big Break Greenbrier, Big Break NFL Puerto Rico) 2 up in a match that featured a comeback by Gillespie on the back nine after being 2 down to close out the match with a birdie on 18.
Sadena Parks (Big Break Florida) birdied her first six holes against Kim Welch (Big Break Ka’anapali, Champion) en route to a dominating 6&5 victory.
Emily Talley (Big Break NFL Puerto Rico, Champion, Big Break Mexico) defeated Carling Nolan (Big Break Sandals Resorts, Champion) 3&1 after winning the final three holes and closing out the match with a par on 17.
