The ladies of the Fury Ladies Florida Amateur 9-ball tour visited the new Orlando Billiards Center for their fifth event on June 11, 2005. Orlando players were right at home and two of them took the top honors.
Ellen VanBuren and Jennifer Nelson, both Orlando-area players, raced through the winner's bracket to meet in the hot seat. VanBuren made it to the hot seat with a 21-8 game record including a win over Niki Rasmussen in the round prior. Nelson brought a close 21-10 stat with wins over Helene Caukin, Peggy Rowe, and 2nd-ranked Stephanie Mitchell. VanBuren and Nelson traded the first few racks for the hot seat, knotting at 2-2 until VanBuren pulled into the lead, 4-2. Nelson picked it up and took the next two games to tie 4-4 and they again traded until it was hill-hill at 6-6. In the final game, Nelson got her shot at the open rack and ran out to secure her place in the finals.
On the B side, Helene Caukin was making a comeback after a first-round loss to Nelson. Caukin rounded up a 20-6 record including wins over Jessica Barnes, Stephanie Mitchell and Peggy Rowe. Caukin then met VanBuren in the semis to see who would play Nelson in the finals. Caukin raced ahead to a dominating 4-1 lead in the race to five. A 1-9 combo in the next rack for VanBuren sparked her comeback and she notched the next games to tie the match 4-4. A run out in the final rack said it all and VanBuren advanced to the finals with a 5-4 comeback win.
The race-to-nine finals rematch between VanBuren and Nelson started out with Nelson taking the lead 3-1. VanBuren then broke and ran to trail 3-2 and followed this with another out to tie 3-3. VanBuren took the lead at 4-3 but a miss on the 9-ball in the next rack let Nelson back in to tie at 4-4. Nelson took this opportunity to make a stand and charged forward capturing four of the next six games to lead 8-6. VanBuren was still shooting strong though and earned the next two games to make for a hill-hill final. VanBuren had the break in the case game but a miss on the three let Nelson to the table. Nelson ran through the remainder of the rack finishing with a cut on the 9-ball in the side pocket to close the match 9-8. This was Nelson's first Fury win after numerous high finishes on the tour.
Results:
1st Jennifer Nelson $270
2nd Ellen VanBuren $160
3rd Helene Caukin $110
