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Even with a 5-up lead after nine holes, Warsaw's Denny Hepler wasn't exuding confidence that he would emerge the winner of the Golf Channel reality show "Big Break VI: Trump National."
The show was filmed in July and Hepler knows the outcome, but is bound by contract with The Golf Channel not to divulge any results ahead of the telecast.
"It's not over 'til it's over," Hepler said this morning.
The show airs each Tuesday at 10 p.m. on The Golf Channel - local Comcast Cable channel 67.
According to thegolfchannel.com, the show pits the contestants "against each other in a variety of challenges that test their skills and mental toughness for the right to compete in two Champions Tour and two LPGA Tour events, respectively. One female and one male will be eliminated from the series each week, with the two remaining being crowned 'Big Break VI: Trump National' winners."
After 10 weeks of telecasts, the 18 original contestants were pared down to two men an two women.
The winners will be determined by 18 holes of match play.
Hepler went head-to-head against Jeff Mitchell, of Frisco, Texas.
On the women's side it was Briana Vega, of North Andover, Mass., against Bridget Dyer, of Kailua, Hawaii. The women finished the first nine holes all square.
Hepler and Mitchell both hit solid drives off the first tee and made par, with Hepler missing a makeable birdie put.
Hepler birdied two and three, taking a 2-up lead after three holes.
With Mitchell struggling, Hepler went up two more after holes four and five.
They halved number six and Mitchell hit a bad drive on number seven, giving up the hole and giving Hepler a 5-up lead after seven holes.
Mitchell hit a great tee shot on the par 3 eighth hole, leaving an 8-foot birdie chance. Hepler, safely on the green off the tee, made a two-putt par and Mitchell missed the birdie try.
On the ninth, Hepler showed the first chink in his armor.
"I played about as good as I could until the ninth hole," Hepler said today. "My drive slipped out to the right."
Hepler would have to take a drop, but Mitchell missed the fairway, landing in a bunker.
Mitchell hit a solid layup shot, giving him a chance to win the hole, but he misfired on his approach. He chipped on and two-putted for double bogey, halving the hole with Hepler despite Hepler's drop.
"The tee shot I hit on No. 1 was harder than the first tee shot at the Masters," Mitchell said during the telecast. "It was that intense."
"It's nerves," Hepler said this morning. "We're all nervous," he said of the competitors.
He said trust was the best way to battle nervousness.
"You just have to trust that your swing's gonna work," he said. "It's not life and death. You just have to take your best crack at it, and wherever it goes, go find it and hit it again. Whatever happens, happens."
Hepler gave no indication as to the outcome, despite his commanding 5-up lead with nine holes to go.
"Mind you, we cut this in one day, over eight hours. You could have got a hot dog or a sub sandwich at the turn, but they wanted us to continue on," Hepler said of the final 18-hole match.
"It's an incredible finish. They (The Golf Channel) tipped their hat a little on that," he said, referencing promotional spots for next week's episode.
Hepler said he and Mitchell became quick friends throughout the competition because they were acquaintances beforehand.
"Jeff and I weren't out there to put the dagger in each other's sides. We were there as true gentlemen to the sport, rooting for each other," he said.
"I hadn't seen Jeff in a long time. I saw him at the Senior British Open two years ago at Aberdeen. I thought all along he was the guy to beat," Hepler said.
Mitchell, during the broad cast, said exactly the same thing about Hepler.
Hepler, noting the parity among players and the type of "short day" competition, said anyone could have came out on top.
"It all came down to the best person that day," he said.
The four remaining contestants are vying for the tournament exemptions and other prizes.
The female champ will receive an exemption into the 2007 SBS Open at Turtle Bay and the 2007 Longs Drugs Challenge, as well as waived entry fees for the 2007 Duramed FUTURES Tour season.
The winning male contestant will receive exemptions into the 2007 Turtle Bay Championship and the 2007 Bank of America Championship, as well as waived entry fees in six events on the 2007 Heartland Players Senior Tour.
In addition, Adams Golf will present the winners with an Adams Golf endorsement contract and NetJets, the worldwide leader in private aviation, will provide five hours of flight time to each winner.
