Below is Sophie’s bio as reprinted from the Big Break Ka’anapali pages at The Golf Channel. To view Sophie Sandolo’s swing videos and complete bio click here.

Sophie Sandolo

Monaco, Monte Carlo

Hometown: Nice, France
Birthdate: 7/20/76
College: University of California- Los Angeles (One year)
Home Golf Course: Royal Mougins Golf Club,
Mougins, France
Interests: Sailing and biking
Family: Single

Sophie Sandolo is clearly more than a pretty face. A seasoned player on the Ladies European Tour, she’s confident Big Break Ka’anapali will be her next step towards achieving the current goal of playing on the LPGA.

Regardless of what she has done on the course to this point, though, it is appearing in three calendars that has put the Italian model in the public eye.

The Monaco, Monte Carlo, resident has had many “crazy ideas” to promote herself and golf in general, of which the most out of character led the self-labeled “shy” Sandolo to shoot a provocative calendar in 2005. It was so successful that she produced a calendar in both 2006 and ’07 as well, with each edition showcasing her in revealing photography of an artistic and sexy nature.

“I’m strongly convinced that women’s golf needs more visibility and glamour and to present itself in a new, younger and intriguing way,” Sandolo said. “In the last few years women’s golf made some giant steps but the road is still long. I wish that my calendars could bring more notoriety and a bigger diffusion to the sport I play and I love so much.”

She has obtained international visibility on major TV networks (CNN, CNBC, BBC) and fashion magazines, including FHM and Vanity Fair. In addition she was featured in ESPN.com page 2 as one of the hottest female athletes in 2006.

Ironically, the calendar’s publicity may have done a disservice to her golf in the sense many do not realize she is an accomplished player. Sandolo has amassed 15, top-10 finishes in her Ladies European Tour career and finished as high as 15th on the money list. Currently a Tour board member, her commitment and dedication to helping grow the tour is the main reason she has never seriously attempted to move to the United States and compete on the LPGA.

Born and raised in Nice, France, by a French mother and Italian father, she grew up playing tennis before ultimately choosing to focus on her studies at age 13. Shortly thereafter, she and some friends played golf one day and Sandolo found the game to be “quite simple.” From that point forward, golf became her main focus. In less than a year, her handicap was under 10, and by the age of 16, she was a scratch player competing for the Italian junior girls team.

Her game continued to improve to the point she accepted a full scholarship to University of California – Los Angeles, when, at 23 years old, she was named to the All-America team her freshman year. Sandolo, however, left school to return to Europe and compete in the Women’s European Amateur Championship. The return home paid off when she won the event in 1999 after finishing runner-up the previous year.

“My main strength as a golfer is my mental game,” said Sandolo, who qualified for the Ladies European Tour after turning professional in 1999. “I don’t have big ups and downs when I compete. Chipping, driving, putting, I try to keep everything equal. I don’t usually have huge swings. My play is very stable.”

Self-assured about her game, Sandolo likes her chance for success at Big Break Ka’anapali. “When it comes to golf, I think you have to be confident but never overconfident, because in golf there will always be bad days,” she said. “But I’m confident about my game.”

Article from: Sophie Sandolo Photographs Pictures

Grab your sunscreen and shades because the girls are back and Big Break Ka’anapali is the place to catch the most talented female cast in Big Break series history. Premiering April 15 at 10 p.m. ET, the popular GOLF CHANNEL series will be hotter than ever when 12 ladies battle in new challenges for both pride and an exemption to play in the 2008 Navistar LPGA Classic.

Each of the competitors are diverse not only in personality, appearance and style; but also in age, experience, and abilities. The dynamic mix promises to bring about the conflict and drama that only Big Break can.

The players in the competition have a story to tell and a game to back up their dreams. The competitors in Big Break Ka’anapali are: Lori Atsedes (Winter Park, Fla.) is the veteran professional whose journey to Big Break Ka’anapali has been a roller-coaster ride filled with highs and lows; Dana Bates (Thousand Palms, Calif.) wants to prove that 40-year-olds can compete with the kids; Susan Choi (Natick, Mass.) competes as the lone amateur in the series; Courtney Erdman, (Altadena, Calif.) like many girls in the series, says her greatest obstacle to playing on the LPGA Tour is a lack of finances; Samantha Head (Orlando, Fla.) dearly would like to join her twin sister on the LPGA Tour; Adrienne Gautreaux (Mabank, Texas) is the fiery red head who will surely stand out due to her competitive nature; Christina LeCuyer (Conway, Ark.) may have started her journey towards professional golf at a later age than most, but that does not seem to be holding the Canadian native back; Tina Miller (Miami, Fla.) looks at Big Break Ka’anapali as an opportunity to rediscover lost confidence in her golf game; Sophie Sandolo (Monaco, Monte Carlo) is the Italian model out to prove she has the game for the LPGA Tour; Cirbie Sheppard (Auburn, Calif.) may prove to be one of the most unique characters Big Break has ever seen; Elizabeth Stuart (West Palm Beach, Fla.) is the first Big Break contestant to come out of the First Tee program; and Kim Welch (Sacramento, Calif.) is the self-professed quiet one who prefers to let her clubs do the talking.

Article from: Sophie Sandolo Photographs Pictures

Hall shot a 6-under 66 in her final round for a 13-under total of 203 at Royal Pines. She was tied with South Korea’s Shin for most of the closing holes, after Karrie Webb had led early in the round.

Shin, who had a share of the lead all day, three-putted the 18th from about 45 feet for bogey, missing her 3-footer to the left when it appeared both players were heading for a playoff.

After posting rounds of 70 and 69, Sophie Sandolo struggled on the final day and carded a 76, only good for a tie for 44th place. Tied at 44th place was another gorgeous golfer, Carlie Butler.

Read this full story at GolfWeek

Article from: Sophie Sandolo Photographs Pictures

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 7, 2008) – The girls are back and Big Break Ka’anapali is the place to catch the best female cast in Big Break series history. Coming this spring, the popular GOLF CHANNEL series will be hotter than ever when 12 ladies battle in new challenges for both pride and an exemption to play in an LPGA Tour event.

Each individual in the diverse group has a story to tell and a game to back up their dreams. The competitors in Big Break Ka’anapali are: Lori Atsedes (Winter Park, Fla.) is the veteran professional whose journey to Big Break Ka’anapali has been a roller-coaster ride filled with highs and lows; Susan Choi (Natick, Mass.) competes as the lone amateur in the series; Courtney Erdman, (Altadena, Calif.) like many girls in the series, says her greatest obstacle to playing on the LPGA Tour is a lack of finances; Samantha Head (Orlando, Fla.) dearly would like to join her twin sister on the LPGA Tour; Adrianne Gautreaux (Mabank, Texas) is the fiery red head who will surely stand out due to her competitive nature; Christina LeCuyer (Conway, Ark.) may have started her journey towards professional golf at a later age than most, but that does not seem to be holding the Canadian native back; Tina Miller (Baltimore, Md.) looks at Big Break Ka’anapali as an opportunity to rediscover lost confidence in her golf game; Sophie Sandolo (Monaco, MC) is the Italian model is out to prove she has the game for the LPGA Tour; Cirbie Sheppard (Auburn, Calif.) may prove to be one of the most unique characters Big Break has ever seen; Elizabeth Stuart (West Palm Beach, Fla.) is the first Big Break contestant to come out of the First Tee program; Dana Bates (Thousand Palms, Calif.) wants to prove that 40-year-olds can compete with the kids; and Kim Welch (Sacramento, Calif.) is the self-professed quiet one who prefers to let her clubs do the talking.

The Big Break concept showcases highly skilled golfers competing against each other in a variety of challenges that test their physical skills and mental toughness, with the ultimate winner awarded his/her “Big Break,” a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in select professional tournaments, and other career-building prizes.

Past champions have competed on some of the world’s top professional tours, such as the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Canadian Tour. In 2008, former Big Break winner Tommy Gainey will be a rookie on the PGA TOUR and five former female Big Breakers have been members of the LPGA Tour.

Located on Maui, along one of the most stunning coastlines in the world, Ka’anapali is rich in history and tradition. As the state’s first planned resort destination, Ka’anapali established a pinnacle for other destinations on the islands to strive to attain over the years.

With 36 holes of championship golf, Ka’anapali has 45 years of tournament history and has hosted the Champions Tour Ka’anapali Classic, the LPGA’s Kemper Open, the Canada Cup, Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf and will host the Wendy’s Champions SKINS GAME in February 2008. The Royal Course, a Trent Jones design, is a demanding par 71 course with undulating greens and has tested the skills of Arnold Palmer, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Lee Trevino and Jan Stephenson. The Ka’anapali Kai Course, a par 70, is a shot maker’s delight with the focus on strategy and club selection, with beautiful panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and neighboring islands from every vantage point.

For more information, contact Mark Mitchell at mmitchell@golfchannel.com or 407.355.4063.

Article from: Sophie Sandolo Photographs Pictures

Buy the Sophie Sandolo 2008 Calendar

Article from: Sophie Sandolo Photographs Pictures