Stephanie Sparks, former U.S. Curtis Cup golfer and co-host of Golf Channel’s reality show “The Big Break,” passed away on April 13th. According to an online obituary.
She was 50 years old.
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
“She was a professional golfer herself.” Tom Abbott told Golfweek:, has been co-host of Sparks for seven years. “She knew what it was like for the contestants and wanted them to succeed. When we were doing the show, she was riding on their emotions in a way. .
“She knew how difficult it was.”
Sparks starred as a young golfer, winning the 1992 North and South Women’s Amateur, the 1993 Women’s Western Amateur, and the 1993 Women’s Eastern Amateur.
She went on to play collegiate golf at Duke University, earning first-team All-America honors her freshman season and second-team honors as a sophomore.
She was then part of the 1994 Curtis Cup team that drew Great Britain and Ireland on the Honors Course outside Chattanooga, Tennessee.
However, her professional career was cut short due to injuries, particularly back pain, and she was limited to just one season on the LPGA Tour.
“I will be forever grateful for the friendships I made through junior golf.” Broadcaster Lisa Cornwell wrote about Sparks for X. “Last week we lost one of our best friends at @AJGAGolf. God bless you, Sparky…and thank you for being you.”
After her career, Sparks played the role of Alexa Sterling in the 2004 film “Bobby Jones: Strokes of Genius,” and eventually appeared on various Golf Channel shows including “The Big Break,” where players compete for spots. I started to host a program. Play in professional tournaments.
Sparks also reported on several golf tournaments and hosted “Golf with Style” and “Playing Lessons with the Pros.”
A private family funeral will be held in West Virginia, where she was born, according to her obituary.
