Ladies Spirit Tour Finishes Saturday, Eight Coming Back Sunday

Helena Thornfeldt

The Ladies Spirit Tour finished up Saturday at Hollywood Billiards in Hollywood, Florida.  Owner Margie Soash opened her room to the ladies of the tour for their latest $1000 added event in which the women are vying for not only top ranking for the season, but a qualifier spot in the first 2009 WPBA Classic Event and a total purse of $2300.

All in total, twenty-four players set out for Hollywood including WPBA professionals Monica Webb and Helena Thornfeldt.  In addition, several known international players that have been hot on the regional trail have been on-hand: Simone Hospedales, Mirjana Grujicic, and Tamara Rademakers.  The field did not stop there as the regions finest were woven into the roster including Stephanie Mitchell, Lauren Gaelen, Ellen Van Buren, Leslee Davis-Blaikie, Michell Monk, and Diana “Dee” Minor.

This is the last event of the season that the players can acquire ranking points, so everyone is gunning for a top seating on the board at the end of Sunday.  The incentive is definitely there for those that plan to attend the WPBA Regional Tour Championships (usually held early in the year) as only a handful will get that nod as well.

Coming back on Sunday on the winner's side are Ellen Van Buren v. Monica Webb and Helena Thornfeldt v. Tamara Rademakers. The one-loss side brings a punch for the competition junkies in the form of Mirjana Grujicic v. Shanna Lewis and Kelly Coyle v. Stephanie Mitchell.

Payouts for the event are as follows:

1st $700

2nd $400

3rd $300

4th $200

5th/6th $130

7th/8th $90

9th-12th Helene Caukin/Roberta Case/Lauren Galen/Diana Minor $65