Holly Sholes wins AWBT Season Finale

Holly Sholes

Twenty women played in the AWBT’s last stop of the 2009 season.  This tournament was a $500 added WPBA Qualifier held at Metro Sportz Bar on November 1st and 2nd!  The winner would receive a paid invite to a 2009 WPBA Classic Event yet to be determined. This event was presented by J. Pechauer Custom Cues.

Holly Sholes and Susan “Madhatter” Mello met up in the hot-seat match.  Holly earned her way to the hot-seat match by defeating the following opponents:  Samm Diep (7-3), Sarah Geoghan (7-2), Terri Johnson-McCauley (7-5) and Barbara Lee (7-1).  Mello had a bye in the first round, then earned her way to the hot-seat match by defeating the following opponents:  Susan Williams (7-6), Nina Tagley (7-5), Michelle Micik (7-6).

Holly beat Mello for the hot-seat (7-3).  Mello went on to play Nicole Keeney in the semi final match.   It was a tight match, with the score tied 5-5, a scratch by Mello allowed Nicole to win the next game which  put her on the hill first.  Then a mistake on the 7 ball by Nicole allowed Mello to win the next game which caused the match to tie again at 6-6.   Mello won the semi final match and earned the right to challenge Holly Sholes in the finals.  

The finals were between Holly Sholes and Susan “Madhatter” Mello.  Since this was a true double elimination tournament, Mello would have to beat Holly two sets-race to 7. Holly made it to the hill first with the score 6-4.  Mello won the next two games which tied it up hill-hill.  Mello won the next game to win the set and on to the 2nd match they went.  Holly got off to a quick 4-1 lead.  Susan won the next two games which put her back in the game with the score of 3-4. Holly came right back and won the next three games to win the match, the tournament and the $500 paid entry into a 2009 WPBA Classic Event!

This tournament was also the deciding factor as to who would be crowned the 2008 AWBT Regional Tour Champion!  It was a close race right up to the finish, but with her 3rd place finish, Nicole Keeney pulled out the points needed (135) to win the whole tour!  This means that Nicole receives an unpaid invitation to all 2009 WPBA Classic Events!  Congratulations Nicole on your huge accomplishment!  We’ll be rooting for you all the way!

Six ladies came back on Sunday to play in the free second chance event!  Jeri Engh won the hot seat and Kristie Ortega came thru the losers bracket.  Since this was a true double elimination tournament, Kristie would have to beat Jeri two sets-race to 4.  Congratulations to Kristie for the win (4-0 and 4-1) and $40 and to Jeri for 2nd place and $25!

The AWBT also held a raffle for a beautiful J. Pechauer custom cue valued at $500!!  Congratulations to Bill Garrett for winning this awesome cue!  I’m so jealous!  Thanks to everyone for buying tickets and supporting the AWBT!  We raised $202 with this raffle.

A HUGE thanks goes out to the entire staff at Metro Sportz Bar!  They took great care of us!  This is such an awesome facility!  They have great food, lots of huge TV’s, 10-9ft tables and too many bar-box tables to count! We love playing here!

We hope to see you all at our annual membership meeting which will be held on Saturday, December 13th, at 1pm at Kolby’s Korner Pocket in Tempe.  We will be voting on many issues affecting the members, so your participation is highly encouraged!