FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 3rd, 2014

Jay Woodson Shoots Bogey-Free 68 to Win Inaugural Big Break Invitational Reynolds Plantation

Big Break Invitational Reynolds Plantation

Reynolds Plantation, Great Waters Course

Lake Oconee, Ga.

Final Round Notes and Interviews – Match Play

Friday, Oct. 3, 2014

 

TV: Golf Channel: 3-6 p.m. ET

Final Leaderboard: www.golfchannel.com/tours/special-event/2014/big-break-invitational-stroke-play/

 

LAKE OCONEE, Ga., Oct. 3, 2014 – Jay Woodson (Richmond, Va.; Big Break Mexico) turned in a bogey-free 4-under par 68 to win the inaugural Big Break Invitational Reynolds Plantation today by one stroke over Emily Talley (Napa, Calif.; Big Break Mexico / Big Break NFL Puerto Rico) and two shots over Tony Finau (Lehi, Utah; Big Break Disney Golf) and Tommy Gainey (Hartsville, S.C.; Big Break VII: Reunion Champion; Big Break IV: USA vs. Europe).

Woodson, 32, capped off a career week by turning in a birdie on 18 after a tremendous greenside bunker shot that came to rest six feet from the cup. With the victory, Woodson pockets $100,000 – the largest check in his professional career – and an automatic return invitation to the 2015 Big Break Invitational Reynolds Plantation.

“I’m still a little in shock, but I’m super excited,” said Woodson following his victory. “I knew coming into the week that there were going to be great players here and it was going to be a tough test. But I knew what I was capable of doing, and I was confident in my abilities and just tried to stay patient and believe in myself.”

Talley, 24, playing in the final group and leading most of the day, had a one-stroke lead going into the par-3 17th.  She mis-clubbed and hit her tee shot short in the water, leading to a double-bogey that dropped her two strokes behind Woodson.  On 18, she recovered with a 12-foot birdie putt that secured a solo-second place finish at 3-under par and a $50,000 second prize check – $4,000 more than she has made in her two-year professional career on the Symetra Tour.

$300,000 PURSE WITH $100,000 TO THE WINNER: The four-round tournament featured a Modified Stableford format for the first two rounds, followed by match play (third round), and concluded with stroke play (final round) to determine the Big Break Invitational Reynolds Plantation Champion. 12 players (six men and six women) advanced from match play to today’s final round of stroke play. The low eight players from today’s final round also earn an automatic invitation to the 2015 Big Break Invitational Reynolds Plantation.

TOP EIGHT EARN AUTOMATIC RETURN INVITATION: The top-eight finishers from today’s final round earned an automatic invitation to the 2015 Big Break Invitational Reynolds Plantation. The top-eight finishers were:

Woodson (Champion, 4-under-par)

Emily Talley (Runner-up, 3-under-par)

Tony Finau (T3, 2-under-par)

Tommy Gainey (T3, 2-under-par)

Mallory Blackwelder (T5, 1-under-par)

Gerina Piller (T5, 1-under-par)

Brent Long (7th, even-par)

Jackie Stoelting (8th, 2-over-par)

 

Online Media Center

Press releases, tee times, interview transcripts, logos and images of the Big Break Invitational players are available at Big Break Invitational Reynolds Plantation Media Center – available on NBC Sports Group Press Box.

 

Big Break Invitational Reynolds Plantation Press Contacts:

Jeremy Friedman

Golf Channel Communications

407-721-9752 c

Jeremy.Friedman@golfchannel.com

 

Jeff Szklinski

Golf Channel Communications

814-880-6933 c

Jeff.Szklinski@golfchannel.com