Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (2024)

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (1)

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (2)

Beth Ann Nichols

April 19, 2024 11:32 pm ET

Longtime Golf Channel “Big Break” host Stephanie Sparks died on April 13 at the age of 50. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Robert and Janie Sparks, Mary Stephanie Sparks was an All-American collegiate golfer at Duke.

She won the 1992 North and South Women’s Amateur at Pinehurst and in the summer of 1993, rattled off victories at the Women’s Western Amateur, Women’s Eastern Amateur and the West Virginia State Amateur.

Sparks represented the U.S. on the 1994 Curtis Cup team and had a brief professional career that was plagued by injuries. She began her pro career on what’s now the Epson Tour and played only one season on the LPGA in 2000 before chronic back pain ultimately ended her career.

Sparks played the role of three-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Alexa Stirling in the 2004 movie “Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius” opposite Jim Caviezel.

In addition to the “Big Break” reality series, Sparks hosted the “Golf with Style” series on Golf Channel as well as “Playing Lessons with the Pros.” She also did some on-camera reporting at tournaments.

During her competitive days, Sparks wrote player diaries for Golfweek, offering an inside look into tour life.

Golf Channel’s Tom Abbott worked seven seasons with Sparks as a co-host on the popular “Big Break” series. Abbott, who is on the broadcast team this week at the Chevron Championship, lauded Sparks’ work ethic.

I’ll forever be grateful for the friendships I made in junior golf.

Last week, we lost one of our best @AJGAGolf mates.

God bless you, Sparky… and thanks for being you. ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/1V07JC6Vim

— Lisa Cornwell (@LisaMCornwell) April 20, 2024

“She had been a professional golfer herself,” he said, “so she knew what it was like for the contestants, and she wanted them to succeed. She kind of rode their emotions in a way when we were doing the show.

“She knew how tough it was.”

Sparks’ Kepner Funeral Homes obituary page notes that she was an advocate for hospice care for the last several years of her life and supported Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation and the Barber Fund in Orlando.

A private family service will be held in Elm Grove, West Virginia, at Kepner Funeral Home.

Here’s a look back at Sparks’ career:

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (3)

Ginn Open - Round One

REUNION, FLORIDA - APRIL 17: Stephanie Sparks, of The Golf Channel, lines up a putt on…

REUNION, FLORIDA - APRIL 17: Stephanie Sparks, of The Golf Channel, lines up a putt on the second green during the first round of the Ginn Open at Reunion Resort April 17, 2008 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (4)

Ginn Open - Round One

REUNION, FLORIDA - APRIL 17: Stephanie Sparks, of The Golf Channel, plays a bunker shot on…

REUNION, FLORIDA - APRIL 17: Stephanie Sparks, of The Golf Channel, plays a bunker shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the Ginn Open at Reunion Resort April 17, 2008 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (5)

Ginn Open-Second Round

REUNION, FLORIDA - APRIL 18: Stephanie Sparks from The Golf Channel hits her tee shot on…

REUNION, FLORIDA - APRIL 18: Stephanie Sparks from The Golf Channel hits her tee shot on the eighth hole during the second round of the Ginn Open at Reunion Resort on April 18, 2008 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (6)

Ginn Open-Second Round

REUNION, FLORIDA - APRIL 18: Stephanie Sparks from the Golf Channel plays a bunker shot on…

REUNION, FLORIDA - APRIL 18: Stephanie Sparks from the Golf Channel plays a bunker shot on the seventh hole during the second round of the Ginn Open at Reunion Resort on April 18, 2008 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (7)

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"Big Break" hosts Stephanie Sparks and Tom Abbott speak to the assembled cast.

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (8)

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"Big Break" co-host Stephanie Sparks with Yani Tseng.

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (9)

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Golf Channel's Stephanie Sparks, right and Tom Abbott, left, hosts of the this season's Big Break…

Golf Channel's Stephanie Sparks, right and Tom Abbott, left, hosts of the this season's Big Break Atlantis prepare on Tuesday for the filming of the Big Break Reunion show at the Latin Quarter of Universal's City Walk.

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (10)

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Marcela Leon, the winner of Golf Channel's Big Break Atlantis, shares a laugh with hosts Tom…

Marcela Leon, the winner of Golf Channel's Big Break Atlantis, shares a laugh with hosts Tom Abbott and Stephanie Sparks on Tuesday during the filming of the Big Break Atlantis Reunion show at the Latin Quarter of Universal's City Walk in Orlando, Fla.

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (11)

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Big Break Atlantis co-hosts Tom Abbott and Stephanie Sparks on Tuesday during the filming of the…

Big Break Atlantis co-hosts Tom Abbott and Stephanie Sparks on Tuesday during the filming of the Big Break Reunion show at the Latin Quarter of Universal's City Walk in Orlando, Fla.

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (12)

Lorena Ochoa Invitational - Round Three

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 13: Lorena Ochoa (R) of Mexico is interviewed by Stephanie Sparks of…

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 13: Lorena Ochoa (R) of Mexico is interviewed by Stephanie Sparks of The Golf Channel during the third round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Corona Light at Guadalajara Country Club on November 13, 2010 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (13)

Big Break

The cast of "Big Break Atlantis"

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (14)

big break dominican republic - Season #14

Big Break Dominican Republic-- Season: 14 -- Pictured: -- (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

Big Break Dominican Republic-- Season: 14 -- Pictured: -- (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (15)

Stephanie Sparks (photo credit: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (16)

Big Break Indian Wells-- Season: 15 -- Pictured: -- (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

Big Break Indian Wells-- Season: 15 -- Pictured: -- (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (17)

Big Break Ireland-- Season: 16 -- Pictured: -- (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

Big Break Ireland-- Season: 16 -- Pictured: -- (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (18)

Big Break Ireland-- Season: 16 -- Pictured: -- (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

Big Break Ireland-- Season: 16 -- Pictured: -- (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (19)

Big Break (17) Atlantis - (Jan 27 - Feb 10, 2012) Competition continues. Contestants compete in…

Big Break (17) Atlantis - (Jan 27 - Feb 10, 2012) Competition continues. Contestants compete in a golf skills competition, in the Bahamas, were one victor will walk away with a grand prize of a Tour exemption and other prizes.

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (20)

Big Break Mexico -- Season: 19 -- Pictured: - (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

Big Break Mexico -- Season: 19 -- Pictured: - (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (21)

(photo credit: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (22)

(photo credit: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (23)

(photo credit: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (24)

Ginn Open - Round One

REUNION, FLORIDA - APRIL 17: Stephanie Sparks, of The Golf Channel, smiles after making a birdie…

REUNION, FLORIDA - APRIL 17: Stephanie Sparks, of The Golf Channel, smiles after making a birdie on the second hole during the first round of the Ginn Open at Reunion Resort April 17, 2008 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50 (2024)

FAQs

Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel's reality series 'Big Break,' dies at age 50? ›

Longtime Golf Channel “Big Break” host Stephanie Sparks has died at the age of 50. No cause of her April 13 death was listed in a story about Sparks' death on the NBC Sports website. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Robert and Janie Sparks, Mary Stephanie Sparks was an All-American collegiate golfer at Duke.

What happened to Stephanie Sparks? ›

Personal life and death. Sparks lived in Orlando, Florida. She died on April 13, 2024, at the age of 50. Sparks was survived by her parents and her sister.

What female golfer died at 50? ›

Stephanie Sparks, a former LPGA pro golfer and co-host of the Golf Channel reality show 'Big Break,' died last week at the age of 50, according to a Kepner Funeral Homes online obituary (h/t Golfweek). "Stephanie Sparks, 50, of Orlando, FL passed away on April 13, 2024.

Who was the female host of the Big Break? ›

Stephanie Sparks, who co-hosted Golf Channel's “Big Break” reality series for several seasons, died April 13. She was 50. Sparks, born in Wheeling, West Virginia, was a standout amateur who won the prestigious North and South Women's Amateur at Pinehurst in 1992.

What is Stephanie Sparks famous for? ›

Following her playing career, she moved to the Golf Channel and ultimately became an on-screen host on programs like “Golf with Style!” and several seasons of “The Big Break.” An obituary for Sparks stated she died April 13.

What reality TV legend died aged 50? ›

Stephanie Sparks dies aged 50 as tributes flow for ex-golfer and Golf Channel reality TV star. The much-loved figure had a career in professional sport before finding her true calling in show business. Former golf pro turned TV star Stephanie Sparks has died aged 50.

What pro golfer wife was killed in a car accident? ›

Personal life. Appleby's first wife Renay was struck and killed by a taxicab outside London Waterloo station in 1998, shortly after he had missed the cut at The Open Championship. Appleby married his second wife, Ashley Saleet, in 2002, and they live with their four children in Orlando, Florida.

Who is the 15 year old female golfer? ›

PHOENIX - An Arizonan will compete against the best women's golfers in the world this weekend, and she managed to do it at the age of 15. Ashley Shaw started golfing when she was seven, hitting the driving range and training and practicing for this moment. On Monday, the Litchfield Park teen's dream came true.

Why did Big Break get cancelled? ›

The show was cancelled in 2015 because of budget cuts.

Has anyone from Big Break made it to PGA? ›

Richy Werenski won the last Big Break and made the cut at the Barbasol Championship on the PGA Tour with his exemption. He used that to springboard to earning a Web Dot Com Tour card, and played there for a season before earning his PGA Tour card where he is now.

Who hosted Big Break? ›

Snooker-themed game show (1991-2002) presented by Jim Davidson and John Virgo.

Who was the female golfer in the 1950s? ›

The LPGA Tour was formed in 1950 by a group of 13 women golfers, including Alice Bauer, Patty Berg, Louise Suggs, and Babe Zaharias. The leading money winner in 1950 was Babe Zaharias, who won $14,800 that year (she was also a gold medal-winning track and field Olympian!).

What happened to Eva Evans? ›

Social media influencer Eva Evans, who gained notoriety for documenting her life as a New York City native, died by suicide, TMZ reports.

Who was the golfer that was killed? ›

Professional golfer Grayson Murray died by suicide, his parents confirmed in a statement released through the PGA Tour. “We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,” Eric and Terry Murray said.

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