Stephanie Mitchell Earns Fury Finale Win

The KBP Fury Amateur Ladies tour made its way to Strokers Billiards in Palm Harbour, Florida for the $750 added season finale on November 5th, 2005. Tour regulars met with a few new members to vie for the $1090 purse and the title of finale champ.

Before the tournament got underway though, it was time for presentation of the year-end awards to the top eight ladies on the points list. Each winner took home a cash payout and merchandise including Fury Cues and Sterling Cue Cases. Mary-Pendelton Brown took 8th-place, Ellen Van Buren was not in attendance but would take 7th place, with one season win. In sixth-place was Helene Caukin and in fifth was Niki Rasmussen, each with one win this season. A jubilant 4th-placed Barbara Ellis took home a new cue case along with an award for outstanding support of the tour. Stephanie Mitchell took 3rd-placed honors and Jennifer Nelson, with three tournament wins to her credit took 2nd-place. Jessica Barnes, with five tournament wins, took home 1st.

After the awards and pictures were done, the ladies jumped into action on the tables with Stephanie Mitchell and Deanna Laney leading the way. Mitchell started the day with a 7-3 win over Christine Brenner, a 7-4 victory over Jennifer Nelson, and a 7-5 score over Mary Pendelton-Brown to make it to the hot seat match. Also charging through was Deanna Laney who had already guaranteed herself a high finish with two 7-5 wins, followed by a 7-2 score over new member, Deanna Bevins to make it to the hot seat. Mitchell and Laney played a close match for the hot seat but Mitchell stayed on her game to wrap up the final two games and take the match 7-5 to secure her spot in the finals.

Laney made her way to the left side to wait for an opponent. Making her way through the B-side was Jessica Barnes who lost her first match to Barbara Ellis. Barnes recovered with five match wins to make it to the semi-finals against Laney. Barnes had the momentum and took the match 5-2, with Laney settling for 3rd place.

Mitchell was right at home in the finals, in her home room where she is sponsored by Strokers owner, Jose DelRio. It seemed that neither player would be budging as they traded safes in the beginning of the first rack and then tied the score at 1-1. But Mitchell stole the momentum from there, running to a 4-1 lead in the race to nine. Mitchell kept the pressure on Barnes, capitalizing on opportunities to get ahead 7-4. With Mitchell on the hill at 8-5, it looked like the end of the match but a tricky 8-9 combo got in Mitchell's way and the rack went to Barnes for an 8-6 score. Mitchell got another shot at the next rack though and ran out from the opening shot to secure the final game for a 9-6 win and her first KBP Fury tournament victory.

Results:
1st Stephanie Mitchell (sponsored by Strokers Billiards) $480
2nd Jessica Barnes $290
3rd DeAnna Laney (sponsored by Bill Cody Design) $200
4th DeAnna Bevins $100