(the golfi ng life ) Breaking Big Former Lady Gopher golfer Mary Narzisi hopes her participation in " Big Break Florida " will boost her career. By Joseph Oberle " I've always been a little instigator from the time I was a child. " G olfer Mary Narzisi from Omaha was a four-year letter winner at the University of Minnesota and a 2011 graduate. She played in several state amateur tournaments (recording three top-fi ve fi nishes) while she was in Minnesota. A Symetra Tour rookie in 2012, she has career earnings of $11,465. But her highest profi le golf came last fall, when she spent 17 days at Omni Amelia Island Plantation in Florida playing on the Golf Channel reality show " Big Break Florida. " Narzisi was eliminated in the semifi nals, but she relished the opportunity. Her personality was made for the show- never shy with her emotions or commentary, Narzisi made for great TV, even if it didn't always engender viewer support. The show fi nished airing in mid-May, and we caught up Narzisi between tour stops to talk about how her experiences have affected her career. Q How did you end up at the U of M? A I was recruited way back in the day when Brad James was director of golf. I love the Twin Cities and I kind of got hooked on the surroundings. Some of my family is up there-I have two uncles who live in the Minnetonka area and my cousin's up there-so that's really what drew me there. I had a blast at the U. It was just not a place I can continue to practice and play [year long]. Q Did you enjoy playing amateur events in Minnesota? A I did-they were always so well run. The ladies were really nice up there. I always enjoy playing the MGA events. Everything was always played on a highly competitive level because all the girls came home to play in those state opens and amateurs. I usually try to get up there for my U.S. Open qualifying, but scheduling just didn't work out this year. Q On " Big Break, " was it tough to be constantly mic'd up? A Half the time you would be talking and completely forget we were mic'd up. 14 MINNESOTAGOLFER Summer 2014 www.mngolf.orghttp://www.mngolf.org