VERO BEACH — Vero Beach’s own Jackie Stoelting has proved herself as one of the Top 6 of 12 golfers on the Golf Channel’s reality television show and competition “Big Break Florida” and she’s still going strong.
On Monday evening, more than 30 people gathered at Brewgrrs Burgers and Brews, including Stoelting, to watch the seventh episode of the season together.
“This is the last week I’m going to be home before I go and travel,” Stoelting said. With that in mind, Stoelting took advantage of an opportunity to converse with her local fans by coordinating the watch party.
“This experience has been mostly positive,” Stoelting said. “A lot of people have been really supportive, and it has been really good exposure for my career.”
In a matter of days, Stoelting will hit the road for five weeks to participate in events on the West Coast of Florida, then in the Carolinas.
“Hopefully, in the next five weeks, I’ll get into my first LPGA event,” Stoelting said.
Stoelting is used to a constant and rigorous practice schedule, spending much of her time on the golf course. She said participating in “Big Break” provided an environment that helped her develop even more focus and concentration than an average day of practice or a tournament typically would.
“If you ask any golfer, especially a professional golfer, what’s one piece of advice they would give, it’s ‘take one shot at a time.’ On the show, that’s really what you have to do. One shot could make all the difference,” Stoelting said.
Unlike a traditional golf game, the show pits competitors against each other in a series of shorter competitions.
There is strategy involved as well. In some competitions, players can choose to hit from different distances for different point values, or choose to play for a cash prize and risk immunity in an elimination challenge.
Stoelting pointed out playing in a golf tournament means she has 18 holes ahead of her, and a day of consistent golfing. During a day of filming for the television show, the women might be out golfing from sunrise to sunset.
At times, they might be hitting several shots in succession, at other times, they might go an hour or more without swinging.
Though Stoelting is prohibited from sharing how far her success extends into this season of the “Big Break,” her strategy for success is clear.
When she has to make a decision to play for a cash prize or for the chance of immunity that guarantees her a spot on the show for one more week, her sights are set on the long-term goal.
“It’s tough, it’s a lot of cash, but I was thinking, if you just keep getting immunity you keep progressing each week. As much as you want to get the money, you have to keep your eye on the end prize,” Stoelting said.
The end prize of the competition is the opportunity to play in a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour tournament, but along the way, competitors are given various chances to take home prizes in the form of cash, travel vouchers, and other rewards.
With half of the television season over, Stoelting has remained a top contender for the grand prize. Even the few instances she has found herself nervous of entering an elimination challenge, she has always risen to the top.
Follow along with Stoelting as she continues her “Big Break” journey by tuning into the Golf Channel on Monday evenings at 9 p.m.