Spartan Profiles: Sara Brown

One hit reality show is the Golf Channel’s Big Break, where golfers compete for major prizes at famous resorts.

In 2010, two series, based in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, featured one contestant in common—Sara “No H” Brown, ’08, professional golfer on the LPGA’s Duramed Futures Tour.

Brown finished third in the Golf Channel’s reality show “Big Break – Sandals Resort,” and right after, competed in “Big Break – Dominican Republic.” “Amazing, isn’t it?” says Sara, who uses “No H” in her moniker to avoid confusion with another pro golfer. “What a blessing to be 24 and going to the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. In golf you meet cool people and go to really cool places.”

A native of Tucson, AZ, Sara was a four-time winner at MSU, a three-time low amateur in the Michigan Women’s Open, and a two-time MSU Female Athlete of the Year (2006 and 2007). After a stellar rookie season as a pro, she slumped in 2009 and wanted to give up golf. But, thanks to Big Break, she says, “I fell back in love with the game, and it erased any doubts in my mind that this is what I want to do with my life."

Sara was recruited to MSU by golf coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll and her assistant Lorne Don. “We hit it off right away,” recalls Sara. “I just knew this was the place. I was planning to major in education and MSU was ranked No. 1, so that was a bonus.”

She also liked Kansas a lot, but what sealed the deal might have been a pitch made by Tom Izzo during her campus visit. “Izzo laid out all the positives and negatives of coming to MSU,” recalls Sara. “The only negative he mentioned was the weather, but he pointed out that MSU had an awesome indoor facility. Well, I made a great decision. I loved every second I spent at MSU—snow and all.”

Sara did not win the Big Break, but her perky personality played well on television. She now looks forward to advancing either to the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s tour or to the European professional tour. Either would be a real big break.