Stephanie Sparks, host of Golf Channel’s reality series ‘Big Break,’ dies at age 50
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:
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)
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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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)
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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"Big Break" hosts Stephanie Sparks and Tom Abbott speak to the assembled cast.
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"Big Break" co-host Stephanie Sparks with Yani Tseng.
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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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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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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.
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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The cast of "Big Break Atlantis"
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)
Stephanie Sparks (photo credit: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)
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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Big Break Ireland– Season: 16 — Pictured: — (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)
Big Break Ireland– Season: 16 — Pictured: — (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)
Big Break Ireland– Season: 16 — Pictured: — (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)
Big Break Ireland– Season: 16 — Pictured: — (Photo by: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)
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.
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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(photo credit: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)
(photo credit: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)
(photo credit: Mark Ashman/Golf Channel)
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)
