Cindy Miller's Blog - Big Break 7

Editor's Note: Cindy Miller appeared on the third season of The Big Break and returns for season 7. She will share his insider perspective following each episode this season.
 
Cindy Miller's Contestant Blog - Final Show
 
Tommy Gainey and Ashley Gomes are playing for all the money and prizes. I say they are two of the best players in the Big Break VII: Reunion show. They will play nine holes, match play to determine the Grand Champion.
 
Hole 1
 
Tommy bombs a drive and has 230 to the green. He hits a great shot to about 30 feet. Ashley also hits a good drive and has 222 left. She hits a pretty good 3-wood to the front right of the green. Ashley knocks her first putt to about 5 feet. Tommy proceeds to knock his eagle putt in. WOW! Not too bad. Ashley is 1-down.
 
Hole 2
 
Tommy hits his drive a little left, but is fine. Ashley bails out and hits her drive in the right junk. She must drop from there. She then hits a bad pitch. Tommy hits his approach fat and leaves it short. Ashley continues to lash it around and finally gives the hole to Tommy. Ashley is 2-down.
 
Hole 3
 
I think Ashley is a little shaken being 2-down after two. The first hole she did as well as she could, but No. 2 could have been a little better. No. 3 is a par-3. Tommy has 170 and Ashley has 152. When you consider how far Tommy hits the golf ball, the yardage differential isn’t really fair. Ashley bails out a bit again and hits it to the right. Tommy hits a good shot onto the green. They both make par. Ashley is 2-down.
 
Hole 4
 
This is a dogleg right. Tommy pulls his tee shot a little. Ashley goes over the tree to make the hole shorter. She again bails out a bit and it goes a little further right than she wishes. They both hit the green. Ashley gives Tommy a 2-foot putt for par. I’m not sure I would have done that being 2-down.
 
Hole 5
 
This is a par-4 hole which plays 440 for Tommy and 379 for Ashley. Tommy again pulls his tee shot into the rough. Ashley is again to the right. Ashley hits a great second shot. Tommy also hits it pretty close. Tommy makes par and Ashley just misses her birdie putt. All the putts she made in the competition to keep her alive are no longer dropping. Time is running out for Ashley.
 
Hole 6
 
This hole is a short par-4. Tommy blocks his tee shot to the right into the rough. Ashley pulls her tee shot a little and has to go over some trees. She has 118 yards and hits a very good shot into the green. Tommy only has a chip left, but is in the rough. He puts it on the green, but not as close as Ashley. Tommy makes another par. Ashley again just misses her birdie to win her first hole.
 
Hole 7
 
This is the par-3 that did Don Donatello in. Both competitors hit the green, but not very close to the pin. Ashley has to putt first and leaves it pretty short. Tommy knocks his to 3 feet. Ashley has a 4-footer to stay alive and misses it. Tommy has to make his 3-footer to win The Big Break VII: Reunion and does. Tommy Gainey is the Grand Champion.
 
Congratulations to Tommy Gainey. You are a good player and more importantly a nice person. You are a true southern gentleman. I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of becoming a PGA TOUR champion. Ashley you are also a good player and I wish you much luck this year.
 
I have to say thank you and congratulations to the Ringler family. Of course, things always go wrong at the worst possible time. Our cable line snapped off at the telephone pole on the same day as the finals. Since I am writing this blog, I have to watch the show. Thank you for allowing Jamie and me to come over to watch with you. Also, Mike and his sister, Jenny, are the first brother/sister to ever qualify for the New York State High School Championship. It is a pleasure to teach you both.
 
I must thank the GOLF CHANNEL for allowing me to compete in two Big Break series. It has been an honor and a privilege to test myself under the heat of the camera. I have learned so much not only about myself, but about this great game of golf. It has helped me learn to become a better teacher of the game, a better mother to an aspiring PGA TOUR player, and a better competitor. Since competing, I have finished second on The Legends Tour money list, have become LPGA Player of the Year for the Northeast, LPGA Teacher of the Year for the Northeast, been nominated to Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teacher List, and become a member of Golf For Women’s Magazine Top 50 Teacher List.
 
I will continue to get better and not bitter.
 
Thank you.