Carlos Randol, Leslie Anne Rogers, Orietta Strickland and Sherri Hudson

With the first tournament of the 2002 Year in January, who knew how many players would show up?  Well, 53 of them to be exact!  What a great start to the 2002 Season...  Wes Hunter's Hunter Classics Amateur Women's Tour keeps going and going!  14 of the ladies paid the qualifying money to vie for a chance at the WPBA Qualifier and in the end, it would be Sherri Hudson of Houston to win the Qualifying spot and the tournament!

Fast Freddy's was a wonderful host with upstairs and downstairs to play pool, very helpful and gracious staff and a great atmosphere.  Carlos Randol took care of the ladies and welcomed us back again.

Texas, Colorado, Arkansas, Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota and Florida were represented at the tournament and the 53 ladies were dwindled down to 12 by Sunday morning.  On the winner's side Sunday, Sherri Hudson defeated Linda Lujan of Dallas 7-2 and Orietta Strickland from Dallas defeated Austin's Heather Pulford 7-6.  On the one-loss side, Leslie Anne Rogers (2001 Tour Champion) played Juanita Hase of Missouri, Mindy Williams (2001 Most Improved Player) defeated Gail Lave (frequent Hunter Classics winner also from Missouri), Susan Wilbur (new member from Arizona) defeated Hunter Classics Board Member Melinda Bailey and Melanie Koger (frequent Hunter Classics winner and 1999 Tour Champion) defeated Fort Worth resident Melissa Norton.

Leslie Anne Rogers went on to defeat Mindy Williams, teammates Linda Lujan and Melanie Koger before losing to Sherri Hudson. Melanie defeated Susan and Heather before meeting up with Leslie.
Melanie placed 4th and won $270, Leslie placed 3rd and won $420 with Linda and Heather placing 5th/6th winning $160.

Sherry had to fight her way through Tara McCracken (7-5), Christine Ramos (7-3), Lisa Marr (7-5), Susan Wilbur (7-5) and Linda Lujan (7-2) before losing to Orietta Strickland in the hot seat.  Orietta's fight to the finals was with wins over Alesia Teskey (7-2), Jennifer Kraber (7-3), Sherry Pouncey (7-5), Juanita Hase (7-4) and Heather Pulford (7-6) before meeting up with Sherri again.

Last year the tournament format was voted on and this was the first year the Hunter Tour's tournament was a true double elimination tournament  - and at the very first stop it was put to the test!  Sherri defeated Orietta 7-6 in the first set and then they had to play one more set to 7.  Sherry defeated Orietta 7-0 the next set for tournament win.  Along with the WPBA qualifying spot, Sherri also took home $750.  Orietta won $575 for her 2nd place finish.

Congratulations to all the women!  All of the ladies played great, were well-mannered, dressed professional and had a lot of fun.  There were many newcomers this time and it was a great first event! A big thank you to Wes Hunter who keeps this tour alive and who makes it the best in the country.

Fort Worth resident and frequent Hunter Classics player Monica Roznovsky won the beautiful Hunter Classics cue valued at $1,650.  She placed 5th/6th in the second chance tournament and invested that $10 into raffle tickets and then won the cue!

The second chance tournament, with $100 added, was being run downstairs as 21 ladies came back to play.  In the end, it was Deanna Kniola (from the Austin area) defeating Julie Stephenson (Hunter Classics Board Member) 5-3 in the finals.  Deanna won $130 and Julie won $85.  Tara McCracken of Lewisville, TX placed 3rd and won $50.

Don't forget to visit us at our next stop in Albuquerque, NM February 23-24!

Visit us on the web for all information: www.hunterclassics.com.
 

PLACE 1st 2nd 3rd  4th 5th/6th 5th/6th 7th/8th 7th/8th 9th-12th 9th-12th  9th-12th 9th-12th  13th-16th 13th-16th 13th-16th 13th-16th 17th-24th 17th-24th 17th-24th 17th-24th 17th-24th 17th-24th 17th-24th 17th-24th 25th-32nd 25th-32nd 25th-32nd 25th-32nd 25th-32nd 25th-32nd 25th-32nd 25th-32nd

PLAYER Sherri Hudson Orietta Strickland Leslie Rogers Melanie Koger Heather Pulford Linda Lujan Mindy Williams Susan Wilbur Juanita Hase Melissa Norton Gail Lave Melinda Bailey Deanna Kniola Michelle Cortez Lisa Marr Jacqueline Broadhurst Sharon Townsend Sherry Pouncey Sarah Ellerby Stephanie Tuinstra Theresa Murphy Kim Pierce Celeste Torres Lucy Robinson Yvette Johnson Julie Stephenson Jennifer Kraber Becky Rouse Beth Shriver Monica Anderson Kim White Andrea Wardell

WINNINGS $750 + Qualifier $575  $420 $270 $160 $160 $120 $120 $80 $80 $80 $80 $50 $50 $50 $50 $25 $25 $25 $25 $25 $25 $25 $25 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10

2nd Chance Tournament Results:
      $100 added, 21 women
 

1st	Deanna Kniola	$130
2nd	Julie Stephenson	$85
3rd	Tara McCracken	$50
4th	Michelle Cortez	$25
5th/6th	Kathryn Long	$10
5th/6th	Monica Roznovsky	$10

 
By: Melinda Bailey