With many of the top touring ladies in Albuquerque at the WPBA US Open, the field was wide open at the Ladies Spirit Tour stop at Kiss Shot Billiards in Coral Springs, FL. In the end, it came down to a player that has been tearing up the amateur circuit, and a former pro who has returned from retirement.
Joann Mason Parker, who lives in nearby Boca Raton, returned from retirement to compete in her first tournament in nearly four years and definitely made her presence known. Parker went undefeated almost all day Saturday, but finally lost to Debbie Schjodt in her final match Saturday night.
Schjodt went on to take the hot-seat on Sunday morning with a 7-5 win over Lisa Hamilton. Hamilton went to the one-loss side where a determined Parker was waiting. Parker had eliminated Vanessa Seaver and Jessica Barnes already, but had her sights set on the WPBA qualifier that was up for grabs this weekend.
Parker defeated Hamilton 7-5 to earn her place in the finals, but she would have to get by Schjodt twice in order to win the event.
Schjodt has completely dominated the Fury Florida Amateur Ladies Tour the past couple months, but she had never notched a first place finish on the Ladies Spirit Tour. The final match went back and forth with the score tied early, but Schjodt was able to gain control of the match and rattle off four straight games for the 7-3 win.
Schjodt earned $650 in addition to the 2005 players choice WPBA qualifier. Parker settled for $425 in prize money. Hamilton and Jessica Barnes filled out the top four spots.
The Ladies Spirit Tour will be at Capone's Billiard Lounge in Spring Hill, FL on December 11th-12th for their $6200 added season finale. The event is open to all players, regardless of skill level or previous participation in a Ladies Spirit Tour event.
Complete Payouts:
1st Debbie Schjodt $650
2nd Joann Mason Parker $425
3rd Lisa Hamilton $250
4th Jessica Barnes $125
5th/6th Stephanie Mitchell, Vanessa Seaver $75
Photo courtesy of Ladies Spirit Tour
