Stephanie Sparks, who co-hosted Golf Channel’s “Big Break” reality series, has died at 50.
Per an online obituary, Sparks passed away on April 13. No cause of death was provided.
Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Sparks was an All-American golfer at Duke who broke out as an amateur star and eventually earned her LGPA card in 1999. 2000 was the only year she played on the tour before back surgery forced her retirement.
She would soon transition to the world of entertainment, appearing in the 2004 movie “Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius,” before beginning a career as a host on the Golf Channel. Sparks hosted several shows, including “Big Break,” “Golf with Style!” and “Playing Lessons with the Pros.”
Sparks was given a sponsor exemption into the 2008 Ginn Open, allowing her to play one more LGPA event as a professional.
“This was a wonderful, wonderful experience,” she said afterward. “The feelings and emotions were pretty powerful.”
Per her obituary, Sparks spent the last few years of her life as an advocate for hospice care as well as a supporter of several charities, including Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation and the Barber Fund in Orlando.
The news of Sparks’ passing was met with many tributes from former coworkers and others in the media and golf world.
I’m shocked and saddened by the death of Stephanie Sparks. Many of you will remember Steph as the host of #BigBreak – we worked together on 7 seasons. Lots of fond memories of those times, Steph was a crucial part of the Big Break success story. My thoughts go out to her family. pic.twitter.com/3vND4ingyI
— Tom Abbott (@TomAbbottGC) April 20, 2024
https://twitter.com/LisaMCornwell/status/1781489409818247517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1781489409818247517%7Ctwgr%5E5d33a21e5395ff07cc4b7c5b7e9ad51d3c2de56d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2024%2F04%2F20%2Fsports%2Fgolf-channel-broadcaster-stephanie-sparks-dead-at-50%2F
Sad to hear about Stephanie Sparks gone at 50. She was a great person and made everyone around her better#Heavenjustgotevenbetter
— Tommy Gainey (@TwoGlovesGolf) April 20, 2024
https://twitter.com/kraigkann/status/1781744220979466375
https://twitter.com/KayCockerill/status/1781727068319035725
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.