Twenty-two women met up at Michelle's Billiards and Cafe in Syracuse, NY on July 8th and 9th for the NEWT 7th stop. Michelle and Ed Allen added $700 and also a WPBA players choice qualifier spot.

Sundays start had us down to the final four women, Candi Rego and Iowa newcomer Karla Chorny on the winners side and Sharon Weis and Canadian Rachael Abbink on the one loss side. The qualifier spot was up for grabs for everyone but Candi who is already a WPBA pro.

Weis won over Abbink (7-5) but not without some nail biting. Weis was up 6-2 but Abbink caught up 6-5. Abbink had Weis on 2 fouls but when she played the 3rd safety Weis could see it, Make it and get out for the win. Abbink played a great event and ended up in 4th place.

Meanwhile Rego had Chorny 5-2 at one point and Chorny kept catching up one game at a time to make it 5-5. After a battle of safeties (with Chorny being on 2 at one point) Chorny pulled ahead 6-5. Chorny jaws the 2 ball, Candi runs to the 6, miscues and Chorny gets out. Her first event in a 9-ball tournaments on 9 foot tables and she ends up in the hot seat. Karla had wins on Saturday over Carol Clark (3), Michelle Allen (3), Liz Bernier (6), and Lisa Merkin (4).

The race to get into the finals between Rego and Weis ended up in a hill-hill match. Rego breaks and scratches with 2 balls going in. Weis runs down to the 9 ball and misses but leaves it tough for Rego who attempts a bank and misses that. Weis shoots the 9 into the side pocket but the cue ball goes down to the rail and comes back to scratch in the same side pocket the 9 ball had gone into. With that scratch Chorny won the WPBA qualifier and Rego gets to play in the finals. Rego had wins on Saturday over Kathleen Crabill (6), Christy Dickerson (4), Karen Armstrong (2), and Sharon Weis (6).

The finals proved to be a true battle as the players stayed even throughout the match until Chorny pulled ahead 8-6, then Rego made it 8-7. In the next game Rego missed an 8 ball which hung in the pocket. Chorney shoots it in and scratches in the opposite pocket. It is another nail biter. Rego's experience pulls her through and she wins the event.

Congratulations to Candi and also to Karla on a great tournament. Thanks to Michelle's Billiards for being our host. We look forward to returning next year. Thanks to our sponsor, Pechauer Cues for thier continued support.

Tournament Results:

1st $450 - Candi Rego
2nd $350 - Karla Chorny (& qualifier)
3rd $250 - Sharon Weis
4th $150 - Rachael Abbink
5th/6th $85 - Lisa Merkin/Liz Bernier
7th/8th $50 - Kathleen Crabill/Kathy Hitchcock

by Micaela Darnes