Jeannie Seaver went undefeated for the second time in a row this year to take the Tiger Florida Tour’s 8th Annual “Cues for the Cure” breast cancer awareness fundraiser. Thirty-five women played in shades of pink in this $1,000-added modified double elimination event. 

 

Four players from the winners side and four from the loser’s side made it to the final single elimination board. Jeannie handily made it to the final board after sending several players west – Suzayn Yap 7-2, Roe Guarnero 7-5, and Cheryl Perez 7-4.  Vanessa also made it to the final board undefeated, getting past Mandolin Robinson 7-0, Sue Roberts 7-5, and Cortney Bernard 7-2.  Crystal McCormick also made it to the final board undefeated against Susan Correa 7-4, Stephanie Mitchell 7-3, abd Echo Pinkley 7-5. Marlene Houldsworth was the final player from the winners’ side to make it to the single elimination bracket, getting past Shiri Avrahami 7-1, Susan Ruisi 7-5, and Julia Spinella 7-4.  Making it to the final board from the one-loss side: Tour Director Mimi McAndrews, Stephanie Mitchell, Kelly Coyle, and Echo Pinkley.

The final four from one-loss side redrew into a single elimination bracket race to 7. Coyle drew Jeannie Seaver but lost 7-3, and Mitchell drew Houldsworth, winning 7-4. Pinkley matched up against McCormick, winning 7-4, and Vanessa played McAndrews, winning 7-3.  Vanessa went on to defeat Pinkley 7-4, making it Vanessa’s first trip to the Finals of a TFT event. Meanwhile, Seaver’s sister, Jeannie, defeated Mitchell in the semi-finals 7-4 to meet up with Vanessa in the first sister-to-sister final!  Not to be distracted by playing ‘sis for the first time in the finals, Jeannie went on to win the match and the tournament 7-2.  This win also secured the TFT Tour Champion title for the second year in a row.

 

We thank our title sponsor Tiger Products; Ozone Billiards; Great Lakes Billiards, Ultimate Chalkers, Boynton Billiards, AZ Billiards and Discount Mugs. Of course, thanks to Amy Poulter for being a great hostess again!  Thank you also to those who donated prizes for the Cues for the Cure raffle: Janis Sessions, Nicolle Cuellar (Stitchittomeembroidery.com), Pete Franco (Ulterior Chalkers), Boynton Billiards, and Keith Columbo, Billiard Engineering (The Sleeve).  And a huge thanks to everyone who supported and contributed to in the fundraiser. All of the proceeds raised benefit the South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

 

Fifty women converged at Amy’s Billiards in Stuart, Florida, for the Tiger Florida Tour’s $1,000-added, 7th Annual “Cues for Cure” breast cancer awareness fundraiser on October 17th. At the end of the day, Jeannie Seaver went undefeated and unwaveringly over last year’s winner, Crystal McCormick, to win this special event. 

 

This event was a modified double elimination format, playing down to four players on each side. The four players on the one-loss side redrew into the winners side for a single elimination match. Seaver was flawless all day in the short races to five, defeating Irene Snelgrove 5-2, Cheryl Perez 5-2, Jeri Bouvette 5-0, Sue Roberts 5-2, Jessica Barnes 5-3 and taking the win 5-2 over McCormick. McCormick, who hasn’t played on the Tour since February defeated SAndy Change 5-1, Stephanie Mitchell 5-4, Marlene Houldsworth 5-1, Amy Poulter 5-2, and Julia Spinella 5-0 before losing to Seaver. 

 

Seaver’s win also locked up the TFT 2015 Regional Tour Champion title, for the third time since the Tour’s inception in 2009, not including one tie with McCormick for the top spot. 

 

McCormick’s second place finish earned her the paid Qualifier spot for the WPBA Masters at Soaring Eagle in February 2016.  

 

A huge thanks to all of the players and spectators who devoted their time and money to  support this event, including those players who  brought friends to play for the first time. The monies raised benefit the South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. A big shout out to Amy Poulter, owner of Amy's Billiards, for being a great hostess of another great event! Thanks to those who donated prizes for the raffle and helped out with the fundraising: Janis Sessions, Amy Poulter, Hunter Lombardo, Tommy Kennedy, Dianna Sullivan, Tony Martz, Ted Harris Cues, Ulterior Chalkers and the South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. As always, thank you to Tiger Products, our title sponsor; Ozone Billiards, Discount Mugs, Simonis Cloth, Boynton Billiards and Great Lakes Billiards for their year-long support of our tour. Kudos to Jerry Sotelo for his patience and hard work for another great year as the Tournament Director.

Fifty-one women converged at Amy’s Billiards in Stuart, Florida, for the Tiger Florida Tour’s $1,000-added 6th Annual “Cues for Cure” breast cancer awareness fundraiser on October 18th. At the end of the day, Crystal McCormick went undefeated to win the TFT’s last tournament of the year.

 

This event was a modified double elimination format, playing down to eight players on each side. The eight players on the losers side redrew into the winners side for a single elimination match. McCormick was focused all day in the short races to five, defeating Colleen Russell 5-1, Cassidy Mulligan 5-4, Nicolle Payne 5-2 and taking the win from Chris Fields 5-2. Fields defeated Cheryl Perez 5-3, Amy Poulter 5-1, and April Wallen 5-3, before losing to McCormick.  All of the players who made the final board made the money.

 

April Wallen’s third place finish was just enough to earn the TFT 2014 Regional Tour Champion title, bypassing McCormick by 20 points. Jeannie Seaver, last year’s RT Champion finished the year in third place. 

 

Thanks to all of the players, spectators and sponsors who supported this event, benefitting the South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Thank you to Amy Poulter, owner of Amy's Billiards for being a great host of another great event!  Thanks to the players and spectators who donated their time and money to participate. Thanks to those who donated prizes for the raffle:  Hunter Lombardo, Alicia Borjas, Janis Sessions, Dianna Sullivan, Catherine Bragg and Suit Up.  Thanks to the volunteers, Chris Gordon, Nick Walden and Led Uittenbogaard.  Thank you to Tiger Products, our title sponsor, Ozone Billiards, Boynton Billiards, Great Lakes Billiards for their year-long support of our tour. Thank you to Jerry Sotelo for his patience and hard work as the Tournament Director.

 

April Wallen moved to the top of the Flamingo Tour rankings with a come-from-the-loss-side victory on Saturday, April 12. The $500-added event drew 27 entrants to Amy's Billiards in Stuart, FL.

 

The Flamingo Tour operates a modified double elimination format, in which players initially compete in a double elimination bracket, until there are four left on each side. At that point, the remaining eight players are seeded and play single elimination quarterfinal, semifinal and final matches.

 

Both Wallen and her finals opponent, Crystal McCormick, were in the group of four loss-side competitors, and both, after being awarded an opening round bye, had been sent to the loss side in their first round of play. Wallen had initially been defeated by Roe Guarnero 7-4, and then, on the loss side, chalked up victories over Toni Curry and Helene Caukin, both 5-1. Curry is a tour newcomer who will compete in the Billiards Education Foundation's 9-Ball Nationals in June. Wallen moved among the event's final eight with a 5-2 win over Vanessa Seaver.

 

McCormick lost a double hill battle versus Kelly Cavanaugh in her opening round of play, and then, went on something of a feast-or-famine, loss-side run. She won her first match, double hill, over Stephanie Mitchell (who came into the event as the tour's top-ranked player) and then shut out Kristie Cloke. Her double hill win over Guarnero put her among the losers' side final four. These two were joined by room owner Amy Poulter and Maridana "Mike" Fitzgerald.

 

In the meantime, Kellys Coyle and Cavanaugh, along with Jeannie Seaver and Sue Roberts advanced to be the final four on the winners' side. The quarterfinal matches set Coyle up to face Poulter, Cavanaugh met McCormick, Seaver faced Fitzgerald and Wallen squared off against Roberts.

 

Coyle and Poulter played the most hotly contested quarterfinal match, going double hill, before Coyle prevailed. Mike Fitzgerald defeated Seaver 7-4, and McCormick downed Cavanaugh 7-2, while Wallen advanced to the semifinals with a shutout over Roberts. Wallen's next match wasn't as easy. She and Fitzgerald fought to double hill, before a Fitzgerald scratch with two balls on the table, allowed Wallen to clear and advance to the finals. She was met by McCormick, who'd eliminated Coyle 7-2. April completed her run with a 7-5 victory over McCormick, to claim the event title and the top spot in the current tour rankings.

 

Tour director Mimi McAndrews thanked room owner Amy Poulter and her staff, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Simonis Cloth Satellite Tour, and Boynton Billiards.

The largest and longest event for the Flamingo Billiards Tour turned out a record-breaking fifty women on Saturday at the FBT’s 5th Annual “Cues for Cure” breast cancer fundraiser at Amy’s Billiards in Stuart, Florida! A huge "THANK YOU" to all of the players, spectators and sponsors who supported this event, which benefitted the South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

 

With so many players, this one-day event was a true test of endurance. Despite having to shoot into the wee hours of the morning, the players remained patient yet persistent. Ultimately, however, experience and determination paid off. About an hour before sunrise Jeannie Seaver won her fourth event of the year.  Seaver, whose stroke only got better the closer to it got to daylight, defeated last year’s winner of the “Cues for the Cure” event, Jennifer Page, who shot well throughout the day but couldn’t keep up with Seaver, who barely missed more than two shots the entire final match. 

 

Seaver eliminated newcomer Jessica Karamia Human and Crystal McComick in the final single elimination board. Page defeated Cassidy Mulligan and Vanessa Seaver to make it to the final match.  Seaver also takes the 2013 FBT Champion title again this year.

 

More than half the players were playing in support of or in memory of a loved one or friend who had breast cancer or some other form of cancer.  Players and spectators participated in the raffle and other games to raise money for the cause. Darlyne Petrovit won the jar of gummy bears with the closest guestimate of the number of candies in the jar without going over. Cathy Sparling won the jar of M&M’s. Other prizes included cues, cue cases, pool lessons, gift baskets and pink ribbon teddy bears.

 

Many special thanks to all of you who took time to participate, thanks to everyone who brought a friend or two, thank you to the players who drove hours to attend this event, thank you to the spectators, thank you for your donations, participating in the games and your boundless enthusiasm in supporting the cause!

 

The first stop of the 2013-2014 Pure X Cues All American Tour stop – presented by the American CueSports Alliance (ACS) was hosted at 2nd Avenue Corner Pocket in Cedar Rapids, IA on Saturday, October 12.  The $500-added 8-ball handicapped tourney on 7-foot Valley bar boxes drew 24 players. 

 

The finals pitted once-defeated Steve Strausburger (Cedar Rapids, IA) [rated a “4” on a regional rating system used] versus undefeated Shannon Rasmussen (Cedar Rapids, IA) [6].  Earlier Rasmussen had eased through the A-side bracket, including a semifinals win over Doug Bloes (Waterloo IA) [4] 6-3 and a finals win over Alan Schares (Waterloo, IA) [5] 6-3. Strausburger on the other hand lost a second-round match to Doug Bloes 4-1 and spent most of his day on the B-side, claiming late-round victories over Doug Bloes 4-3, Tim Kindl (Cedar Rapids, IA) [4] and Alan Schares to gain a shot for the title.  The tourney finals was dominated by Shannon Rasmussen over Steve Strausburger in the first set to give Shannon the title!

 

By virtue of Steve Strausburger also being the highest-finishing ACS member in the event, he qualified for a free 9-Ball singles entry into the 2014 Pure X ACS Nationals at the Tropicana Las Vegas – courtesy of the ACS.  The ACS wishes to thank sponsors Pure X Cues, Championship Billiard Fabric and Nick Varner Signature Cases for their support in donating “Value-In-Kind” product for this and all stops on the Pure X All American Tour. Sponsorship opportunities and tour stop openings are still available for the 2013/2014 All American Tour by contacting the ACS.

 

The Tour gets busier on Saturday, October 19, with three stops around the country being produced: 1).the $250 added 5th Annual Women’s Cues for the Cure 9-Ball event at Amy’s Billiards in Stuart FL (contact Amy Poulter at 772-529-4846); a $500-added “No Masters” 9-ball event at Cue Master Billiards in Dubuque IA (contact Joel Kramer at 563-557-0875); and a $500-added 9-Ball event at Mike’s Break Room in Virginia Beach VA (contact Mike Wilson at 757-963-2229).  Further information, entry details and schedules for the 2013/2014 Pure X Cues All American Tour are available at www.americancuesports.org. 

Boynton Beach, Fla. – Not to be deterred after getting knocked out early at last month’s event, Jeannie Seaver came to win the Flamingo Billiards Tour Stop #5 on Saturday. Thirty-two players filled the board at Slate Billiards in Boynton Beach, Florida, including Amy Poulter, who has been absent from the tour for more than a year.  But Poulter, room owner of Amy’s Billiards in Stuart, Florida, was back in great form, finishing second only to Seaver. 

 

Her path to the finals was challenging after sending Kathleen Lawless west in a double hill match, then losing a close match to newcomer Kelly Errair. Poulter got past Crystal McCormick in another double hill match, the ended the day for Jennifer Page, and then matched up again with Kelly Errair in the final board, winning 7-1.  Seaver swept past Tour Director Mimi McAndrews, sister Vanessa Seaver, took the edge in a double hill match with Cassidy Mulligan and then won over Sue Roberts to get to the finals.

 

The format is a modified-double elimination playing down to four on each side. The four players on the one-loss side draw into the winners bracket and it is single elimination from that point.  Also making it to the final board of eight was Jessica Barnes, Jennifer Page, Sue Roberts, Cassidy Mulligan, Vanessa Seaver and new player Kelly Errair.