Taylor Collins Wins Golf Channel's Big Break Mexico

Ft. Lauderdale’s Collins Defeats Matthew Galloway 2-up in Dramatic 18-Hole Match at IBEROSTAR Playa Paraiso Golf Club

Collins Wins Largest Grand Prize in BIG BREAK’s 19-Season History

Earns Exemption to the Lorena Ochoa Invitational presented by Banamex and Jalisco and more than $100,000 in Cash and Prizes

Teammates Chad Schulze, Jay Woodson and Liebelei Lawrence Each Win $5,000 Cash as Part of Winning Team

Big Break Mexico Season Finale:

ORLANDO, Fla., July 30, 2013 – Taylor Collins (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) defeated Matthew Galloway (Tampa, Fla.) 2-up in a pressure-packed season finale of BIG BREAK MEXICO, Golf Channel’s 19^th season of its reality competition franchise. 

As champion of BIG BREAK MEXICO, Collins receives the largest grand prize in Big Break series history, highlighted by an invitation to compete in the 2013 Lorena Ochoa Invitational presented by Banamex and Jalisco (Nov. 14-17) and $50,000 in cash.  In addition, Collins receives an Adams Golf endorsement contract, which includes $10,000 in cash; $5,000 in cash from Dick’s Sporting Goods; $10,000 in Avis Car Rental credit, $15,000 in travel credit from Travelocity; $15,000 courtesy of Macanudo and an all-expense paid return trip for two to the all-inclusive, adults-only IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Paraiso in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Collins’ teammates – Chad Schulze, Jay Woodson and Liebelei Lawrence – also earned $5,000 each courtesy of Macanudo as the winning team on BIG BREAK MEXICO.

“I’m a girl and I won the BIG BREAK,” said Collins after the exhausting match.  “I beat some boys.  Amazing.  It is an incredible feeling and such an accomplishment.”

Contested at IBEROSTAR Playa Paraiso Golf and Spa Resort’s P.B. Dye-designed, 18-hole championship course – IBEROSTAR Playa Paraiso Golf Club, the intense match did not include a lead larger than 2 holes throughout the match.  On the 17^th hole, Galloway missed a crucial five-foot putt for par that would have evened up the match heading into the 18^th.  Collins closed out the match with a five-foot putt for par on the 18^th hole to go 2-up.

“I was close to doing something good today, and it just wasn’t good enough,” said Galloway after the match.  “It was great, I learned a ton.  You became a better player because of it.  I didn’t get my Big Break today, but it is going to come.”

The Big Break show concept pits highly skilled golfers against each other in a variety of challenges that test their physical skills and mental toughness.  Past Big Break champions have won tournament exemptions to compete on some of the world’s top professional circuits, including the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, Web.com Tour and Canadian Tour.

Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, BIG BREAK VII: REUNION champion and PGA TOUR professional, captured his first PGA TOUR victory in 2012 at The McGladrey Classic and is playing full-time on the PGA TOUR.  2011 Solheim Cup team member Ryann O’Toole (BIG BREAK SANDALS RESORTS competitor) and 2009 U.S. Solheim Cup Team member Kristy McPherson (BIG BREAK VI: TRUMP NATIONAL competitor) are currently playing full-time on the LPGA Tour.  Several other past BIG BREAK competitors are currently competing on the world’s top tours, including Matt Every (PGA TOUR), James Nitties and Mark Silvers (Web.com Tour) and Kim Welch, Nicole Smith, Gerina Piller and Kelly Jacques (LPGA Tour).

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About Golf Channel

Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla.  The Golf Channel cable network, co-founded by Arnold Palmer and part of the NBC Sports Group, is available in more than 120 million homes worldwide through cable, satellite and wireless companies.  Exclusive partnerships with the world’s top tours allow Golf Channel to feature more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, added to a programming schedule distinguished by golf’s best news, instruction and original programming.  Golf Channel’s digital platform of businesses is led by www.GolfChannel.com, a leading golf destination on the Internet, delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, as well as services that help the recreational player with how to play, what to play and where to play golf.

About Mexico Tourism Board

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB functions as an executive agency of Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat, with autonomous management and the broad participation of the private sector. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.  

About IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts

IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts is a family-owned Spanish hospitality company with more than 50 years of experience in the travel industry. IBEROSTAR provides unique vacation experiences, rooted in superior customer service and quality, in the world’s most popular vacation destinations. With more than 100 hotels in 16 countries, IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts is committed to offering excellence in quality and service and providing personal attention to each guest.

For more information, please visit iberostar.com.