Lori Atsedes - Controversy

Controversy

In one episode of The Big Break, there was a ruling issue on a hook/fade wall challenge when Kim Welch and Atsedes questioned whether another contestant, Christina Lecuyer, had stepped on a divot, therefore improving her lie. Welch caused the divot, playing immediately prior to Lecuyer, but did not stamp down the divot after finishing her shots. The Golf Channel rules officials decided that Lecuyer had in fact breached a rule and took her points away. This cause outrage and personal attacks on Atsedes on The Golf Channel discussion boards. This ruling is largely viewed as incorrect by the people on the discussion boards, as: 1. Lecuyer had not yet placed her ball; 2. The players were playing preferred lies; 3. The ball was not being played "through the hole"; and 4. As a general rule, players had been allowed to rake traps and return the ground to original playing position prior to placing the ball. Welch had conceded these facts, but Atsedes persisted, upsetting many fans of the show.

Atsedes was involved in a series long feud with Lecuyer, her roommate on the show, particularly after Lecuyer was caught saying, "Choke!" prior to Tina Miller's pivotal shot during a team challenge. The cattiness was a central theme of the edited programs for the bulk of the series, and also played out during the Confessionals, a video the players tape every night during filming.

Atsedes wrote a weekly blog on the Golf Channel website during The Big Break, often commenting on her version of the dispute with Lecuyer.