LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO (Nov. 19, 2015) — The top amateur poolplayers in North America were on display in early November at the U.S. Amateur Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla., just across the bay from Tampa. For five straight days, the nation’s top players battled it out at Stroker’s for the coveted U.S. Amateur Championship title and their place in the record books.
More than 2,400 players attempted to qualify for this year’s event, with 128 men and 34 women advancing to the championship round. The tournament field included a strong mix of U.S Amateur Championship veterans and a talented pool of newcomers vying for amateur pool’s most prestigious title.
Henry Brodt defeated fellow former champion David Rowell of Birmingham, Ala., 11-2 in the finals of this year’s U.S. Amateur Championship held Nov. 4-9. Sixteen years after winning his second U.S. Amateur Championship title (1998-99), Henry Brodt now has a third to add to his collection.
Brodt apparently discovered the fountain of youth after retiring and moving to Laguna Beach, Calif. Not only did he win his third U.S. Amateur Championship title, but at the age of 68, he also became the oldest player to ever do so.
To say Brodt dominated both the final round, and the tournament overall, would be an understatement.
He went undefeated throughout the 3-day event, handing losses to Carlos Carter (’13 Runner-up), Ernesto Bayaua (’11 Champion) and David Rowell (’00 Champion) and plowing through a field that included several players half his age.
Brodt will advance to the U.S. Open next fall, courtesy of the APA, and his name will be added for the third time to the Larry Hubbart Trophy.
Rowell finishes as Runner-up in this year’s event, his strongest finish since taking 2nd in 2010. Both of Rowell’s loses at this year’s event came at the hands of Brodt.
Ernesto Bayaua of Tomball, Texas, took 3rd Place, while Eric Tang of Hartford, Conn., took 4th. James Adams of Brooksville, Fla., and Gregory Dix of Myrtle Beach, S.C., tied for 5th Place. Stacie Bourbeau of Orange, Mass., is the 2015 Women’s U.S. Amateur Champion after she defeated former champion Dana Aft (’13) of Marietta, Ga., 9-7 in the finals.
The finale opened in the 8-Ball set. Bourbeau got on the scoresheet first with a win, but Aft came right back to tie the match 1-1. The same scenario played out over the next two games. Tied 2-2, Aft pulled ahead slightly with a win in the fifth game. Bourbeau quickly countered and they split the 8-Ball set 3-3.
As they moved to the 9-Ball set, a similar pattern emerged, with Bourbeau winning one game, Aft the next. The match finally seemed to take a turn in Bourbeau’s direction in the fifth game of the 9-Ball set. Aft had a chance to take the lead, but left the 9-ball hanging, giving Bourbeau an easy out for her fifth match lead. Moments later, she pocketed the 9-on-the-snap, opening up a 7-5 lead. With her confidence mounting, a third straight win put Bourbeau on-the-hill.
Aft, the seasoned U.S. Amateur Championship veteran, refused to break. She battled back to win the next two games, again pulling within one of Bourbeau. Moments later though, her comeback bid fell short, as Bourbeau won the final game she needed for a 9-7 victory.
In a great show of sportsmanship, both ladies embraced as the crowd cheered the newly crowned champion.
Bourbeau secured the title in only her second U.S. Amateur Championship appearance. She’ll advance to a pro event in 2016.
For the Runner-up, Aft, it was her highest finish in the U.S. Amateur Championship since winning the title in 2013. Samantha Barrett of Woburn, Mass., took home 3rd Place in this year’s event.
The 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship was conducted by the APA, and is the only tournament produced by the APA open to both members and non-members. Preliminary qualifying rounds were held throughout the country in mid-September.
As Champions, both Brodt and Bourbeau will return next year to defend their coveted titles.
The U.S. Amateur Championship is a double elimination tournament that offers the nation’s top amateur players the opportunity to showcase their skills through a combination of 8-Ball and 9-Ball matches, in the only APA event that does not use The Equalizer® handicap system.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, with leagues throughout the United States, Canada, Japan and China. Nearly 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9-Ball League play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces three major tournaments each year—the APA National Team Championships, the APA National Singles Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out more than $1.5 Million in cash and prizes annually!
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues and Pool Dawg.
Belinda Calhoun, Lisa Cossette, Tiffany Finnan and Christy Norris
The Press Box in Charlotte, NC, one of the most beautiful pool rooms in the country, was host of the Charlotte 9-Ball Classic September 12-13, 2015. Tiger SMART kicked off its Fall season in style. Owner, Chris Babilonia and family, again showed utmost hospitality as they continue to add features designed for functionality and aesthetic.
During the players meeting, Tiger SMART members paid homage to Emma Stewart Davis, OB Cues Tour member, with a moment of silence to honor our dear sister in pool who was unexpectedly taken last Wednesday. Our prayers go out to the family.
The field may have been the toughest thus far. Day 1 saw Tiffany Finnan and Kathleen Lawless make it to the final four on the winner’s side with wins over Marianne Merrill 7-5 and Lisa Cossette 7-3 for Tiffany and wins over Caitlin Elie 7-1 and Buffy Jolie 7-2 for Kathleen. Joining Finnan and Lawless in the final four in the winner’s bracket were Belinda Calhoun and Dana Aft with wins over Holly Sholes 7-6 and Teresa Moore 7-0 for Belinda and wins over Cheryl Pritchard 7-4 and Christy Norris 7-4 for Dana. This left two matches which were won by Finnan over Lawless 7-3 and Calhoun over Aft 7-4.
It would be Norris and Cossette who would make it back for Sunday with wins over Merrill 7-3; Teresa Moore 7-3; and Kathleen Lawless 7-2 for Christy and wins over Pritchard 7-6; Sholes 7-6; and Dana Aft 7-6 for the trifecta of hill-hill matches for Lisa.
The first round saw Norris defeat Cossette 7-0 leaving Cossette in fourth place. In the hot seat match, Calhoun defeated Finnan 7-3 setting up the semi-final match between Norris and Finnan won by Norris 7-2.
The final is one set, race to 9. Norris got off to a quick start and led 3-0. Calhoun tied it at 3. Racks were exchanged for 4-4. Norris then went in the lead by two 6-4 and Belinda cut it to one 5-6. It was Norris all the way from there for a 9-5 victory and a successful defense of her Charlotte 9-Ball Classic title.
The final in the second chance event final was played by Buffy Jolie and Marianne Merrill. Jolie won 5-1 over Merrill.
Congratulations to all the players for such fine performances. Tiger SMARTs next tour stop will be October 24-25 in Hickory, NC at Randolph’s Billiards.
Many thanks to The Press Box, Tiger Products, Simonis Cloth, Aramith Balls, Ozone Billiards, and Quick-Clean for your continued support and for allowing Tiger SMART to grow.
Tiger SMART began its 2015 season at Rack&Grill II in Augusta, GA. Room owner, Chris Kuneman, was the perfect host extending every courtesy possible to the players. The staff was friendly, fast, and fun. The homemade chicken soup , one of the daily specials, was dee-lish. Tiger SMART is very appreciative of every kindness extended to the tour.
The field was loaded with talent and included first time Tiger SMART participants: Danielle Hill, Michelle Vaughn, Katia Sullivan, Tiffany Finnan, Sonja Hancock, Caitilin Elie, Cindy Doan, and Maryse Gordon. A large contingent from Georgia, including spectators, was present and added to the excitement of the event. A big thank you to the Georgia gals!
Day two, six players returned. Matches for 5th-6th saw a rematch between Jolie and Finnan. After her first loss to Jolie, Finnan used her experience from having played in other regional tours and posted wins over Carolyn Newsome 7-2; Maryse Gordon 7-6; Cheryl Pritchard 7-6; and Sonja Hancock 7-3 before falling, once again, to Buffy Jolie 7-5. In the other 5th-6th match, Betty Lea bested Belinda Calhoun 7-6.
There were now two players in the one-loss bracket and two undefeated players. On the one-loss side, was an extremely well played match between Buffy Jolie and Betty Lea resulting in a 7-5 win for Jolie. In the winners bracket match, equally exciting, Dana Aft grabbed the hot seat with a 7-5 win over Marianne Merrill. The semi-final would see an intensely fought battle between Buffy and Marianne which, of course went hill-hill! The final game was put away by Marianne earning a trip to her first Tiger SMART final! Congratulations to Buffy Jolie who has returned to her flawless execution on the table.
Dana’s trip to the final included wins over Christy Norris 7-3; Sonja Hancock 7-1; Betty Lea 7-5; and Marianne Merrill 7-5. Marianne’s road featured wins over Diana Colgrove 7-0; Michelle Vaughn 7-3; Buffy Jolie 7-6; Dana Aft 5-7; and Buffy Jolie 7-6. In the final, Aft played with pin point focus, well calculated offense to defense percentage, and super safeties as she sailed to a 9-1 victory. Congratulations to both Dana and Marianne for having an excellent tournament.
Tiger SMART would like to thank Tiger Products, title sponsor, and also Aramith, for providing ball sets for the tour, Simonis, Ozone Billiards, and Quick-Clean who are all on board for 2015. Your support is invaluable and greatly appreciated.
Teruko Cucculelli went undefeated through a field of 43 to claim the 2015 Music City Open 9-Ball Ladies title on the weekend of January 16-18. In so doing, she spoiled a loss-side bid by Canada's Brittany Bryant to claim the title for the second year in a row. The $1,000-added event was hosted by JOB Billiards in Madison, TN.
Last year, Bryant won eight on the loss side and double dipped Dana Aft to claim the 2014 title. This year, she won five on the loss side, only to be defeated in the finals by Cucculelli.
Bryant was moved to the loss side in this one by Ashley Nandrasy, who'd move on to a winners' side semifinal versus Jessica Human. Cucculelli and Amanda Wilder squared off in the other. Cucculelli got into the hot seat match with a 7-4 victory over Wilder, and faced Human, who sent Nandrasy after Bryant, double hill. Cucculelli claimed the hot seat in a double hill win over Human and waited on Bryant's return.
Bryant opened up her loss-side campaign with a 7-3 win over Becca Sullins, and then, defeated 2013's runner-up, Liz Lovely, double hill, to draw Wilder. Nandrasy picked up Grace Nakamura (third place, 2014), who'd defeated Donna Favors 7-4, and April Dobbins 7-5. Nandrasy shut Nakamura out, earning a quarterfinal re-match against Bryant, who'd eliminated Wilder 7-2.
Bryant won the re-match 7-2, and with a double hill win over Human in the semifinals, was into the Music City finals for the second year in a row. Cucculelli, though, spoiled Bryant's bid for a second straight title with a single set 7-3 win.
With a tournament as full of top players as the 39th Simonis/Aramith US Open 9-Ball Championship, players are going to have to navigate a veritable minefield of talent to advance. Some of those draws are, of course, tougher than others. With the first round pairing of US Open rookie Skyler Woodward and Filipino veteran "The Lion" Alex Pagulayan, most fans in attendance chalked it up as just a tough draw for the youngster. They were right about it being a tough draw, they just had the wrong victim in mind.
Woodward and Pagulayan kept the match close early as they traded leads at 3-2 and 4-3, then Woodward caught a gear. From 4-3 down, Woodward won seven games to stun the veteran and take the hill at 10-4. Pagulayan, never one to stress over a match situation, came back and won four straight to make it a match at 10-8 before the Filipino legend missed a 4-ball and Woodward smoothly ran out the rack for the 11-8 upset of the day.
"I never really felt nervous" said Woodward after the match. "I just tried to play the best pool I could play". For those critics who count out Woodward in big events like this because of his perceived bar table specialization, Woodward had some bad news for you. "I grew up on a barbox and that is really all we had, but we just got a 9 foot Diamond and I have been playing on it all that I can".
Tuesday morning play saw the beginnings of player eliminations, and a number of top favorites were in danger of suffering a much shorter event than they had planned. Niels Feijen began the day with a powerful match against Chris Pyle where he made an 11-0 statement to forget his loss yesterday to Maz Eberle.
Raj Hundal sent Chuck Ralston home 11-7 and Adam Smith did the same to Israel Rota with an identical score. Mike Delawder took out Paul Potier 11-8 and Imaran Majid ended the run of the only female in the field, Dana Aft, 11-5. Tony Drago gave a speed shooting exhibition as he defeated Chris Cantrall 11-0 in only 25 minutes!
Mosconi Cup hopeful Brandon Shuff, another victim of a very tough draw, suffered his second loss of the event to Rodney Morris 11-5 and will be a spectator for the rest of the week here.
Back in January, when the Tiger Florida Tour was the Flamingo Tour, Dana Aft, from Atlanta, GA, made a trip south to compete in that tour's debut event. She went undefeated through a field of 39, and later, on her Facebook fan page, made a casual comment about the girls from Florida getting together sometime with the girls from Atlanta.
" I was really impressed with the level of play of all the Florida girls!!," is what Aft actually wrote. "I think they should take a road trip and meet the rest of the Atlanta girls sometime."
Betty (Sessions) Lea, from Atlanta, a long-time tour director read the comment and got the ball rolling, eventually communicating with Mike Zingale of Zingale's Billiards in Tallahassee to create the Zingale's Amateur Ladies Tournament, held on the weekend of June 21-22. Tom Gedris of Triple Cross Cues contributed a cue to the event, while Mike Zingale added a Predator Cue, and cookies from his mother, Linda. The $1,000-added (plus two cues and cookies) event drew 18 women from a variety of locations to Zingale's and was won by Ohio's Liz Lovely, who got by Atlanta's Dana Aft twice to claim the title. Betty Lea ended up winning the event's $250-added Second Chance Tournament, which drew 9 entrants.
In the main event, the two former junior champions, Lovely and Aft, advanced to the hot seat match, once Lovely had downed Autumn Duncan 9-5 and Aft had survived a double hill fight versus Nicole Keeney. Lovely took the first of two against Aft and waited in the hot seat.
Keeney and Duncan moved to the loss side, where they were met by Jeannie Seaver (one of the co-tour directors/creators of the event) and Roe Guarnero. Seaver had defeated Cheryl Pritchard 7-1 and Samantha Kikuchi, double hill. Guarnero had eliminated Betty Lea 7-5 and Jeannie Seaver's sister, Vanessa, double hill. Keeney and Duncan got right back to work; Keeney defeating Jeannie Seaver 7-4 and Duncan downing Guarnero 7-5.
Keeney took the quarterfinal match versus Duncan 7-2, to earn a re-match versus Aft in the semifinals. Aft, though, earned her second shot against Lovely with a 7-5 win in those semifinals. Lovely earned her $715, first-place prize, and a Predator Cue with a 9-6 win over Aft in the finals. Lea, in the second chance event, took home the $170 first-place prize and the Triple Cross Cue. In addition to $120 for her second-place finish in the Second Chance event, Samantha Kikuchi picked up a $50 gift certificate for Pool Dawg.
In 2013, Dana Aft was defeated by Crystal Lloyd in the battle for the hot seat at the 1st Annual South Carolina Women's 9-Ball Championship, held under the auspices of Belinda Calhoun's Tiger Southern Mid-Atlantic Regional Tour (SMART). Janet Atwell then defeated Aft in the semifinals, and went on to win the tournament. This year, in the 2nd Annual event, Aft, once again, found herself on the loss side; this time, a little earlier. This time, though, she won five on the loss side and successfully challenged Tour Director Belinda Calhoun in the finals to claim the top prize. The $500-added event drew 14 entrants to Grady's Billiards in Lexington, SC.
"We started the Tiger SMART Tour last year," said Calhoun, "because there wasn't a ladies tournament in the Carolinas.
"We had four stops in 2013," she added of the tour, which takes in both Carolinas, as well as Georgia, "and after this first one, have five more planned for this year."
Calhoun worked her way into the hot seat at this event, after defeating Beverly Knight and Betty Lea, both 7-3. Lea, after sending Aft to the losers' bracket 7-2, survived a double hill battle against Wendy Kinzer, before falling to Calhoun in the battle for the hot seat.
Aft opened up her loss-side campaign with back-to-back, 7-3 wins over Lisa Cossette and Marianne Merrill, which set her up to face Knight. Kinzer, in the meantime, drew Crystal Lloyd, who'd gotten by Melody Duvall, double hill, and Cheryl Pritchard 7-4.
A replay of last year's hot seat match (Aft vs. Lloyd) was set up when Aft downed Knight 7-2 and Lloyd eliminated Kinzer 7-5. Aft feasted on her cold dish of revenge in the quarterfinals, ending Lloyd's day 7-3 and then feasted on a somewhat warmer dish by downing Lea in a double hill semifinal.
"That match could have gone either way," said Aft of the semifinals. "She (Lea) over-ran her shape on the 9-ball in that last game."
Aft brought some momentum into the finals; a single, race-to-9. She defeated Calhoun 9-3 to claim the 2nd Annual South Carolina Women's Championship.
"It was a good field," said Aft of the general competition. "It was a small field, but very, very tough; a lot of quality players."
Sport 9 Ladies Tour stop #3 was held at 6 Pockets Billiards this past weekend, May 17th, 2014 drawing 16 players in the women’s and 36 in the men’s open bar table mini.
The ladies event began Saturday at noon and was played on 9' Diamond tables. The format was double elimination race to 7 on the winner’s side and race to 5 on the loser’s side. The field was very competitive as Sport 9 welcomed two new players, Tina Hess and Allison Hardwick and newly joined member, Dana Aft. Sunday the final 8 were brought back to battle for top 4 money spots. Going undefeated was Betty Lea out of Atlanta, GA. Dana Aft placed 2nd after defeating Ashley Nandrasy and Janeen Lee.
The men’s 9 ball bar table mini event was held in conjunction with the ladies event also producing some great matches with 36 talented players. The format was race to seven, alternate break double elimination. 'Lil D', Daniel McKenney, from Mississippi won the tournament after coming through the losers bracket. Sam Gilmer placed 2nd and Richard Andrews 3rd.
Congratulations to local player Justyn Cone 'Roadman', winner of the the Friday night bar table tournament.
Sport 9 would like to thank Paul McClain, owner of 6 Pockets Billiards for hosting another great event and look forward to returning July 26th weekend for the 2nd annual River City Open.
Sport 9 would also like to thank all tour sponsors listed below for their continued support and contributions.
Sport 9 Ladies tour stop #2 was held at Bumpers Billiards this past weekend, April 12th, 2014 drawing 16 players in both the women’s and the men’s events. Players from all over the southeast came to compete for points and prize money in the 9 ball events.
The ladies event began Saturday at noon and was played on eight 9' Diamond tables. The format was double elimination race to 7 on the winner’s side and race to 5 on the loser’s side. The comradery was boosted as well the level of competition as Sport 9 welcomed 3 new players. Many of the matches were very close going to the hill, however out of sixteen total players it was guest player Dana Aft who went undefeated and claimed tournament champion. Newcomers Ashley Nandresy, Kim Housman, and Betty Sessions came in second through fourth respectively. Several of the matches were recorded are can be viewed on Ustream.tv (Bumpers TV).
The men’s 9 ball bar table mini event was held in conjunction with the ladies event also producing some great matches and 16 talented players. The format was race to seven, alternate break double elimination. Rob Hall, owner of Bumpers Billiards, went undefeated after defeating 2nd place finisher, James Baraks for the hot seat and again in the finals. Robb Saez took 3rd place and Clifton Frederick took fourth after an amazing win over Justin Bergman.
Sport 9 would like to thank Robert Hall, owner of Bumpers Billiards @ Huntsville for hosting the event and providing such a wonderful opportunity for both events. Sport 9 would also like to thank Ozone Billiards, IngenPool, Professor-Q-Ball, AZBilliards, GoPlayPool, Pool-Trax, Kamui Tips, and Focus Gear for their continued support and contributions.
Be sure to plan for the next event, tour stop #3, at 6 Pockets Billiards in Decatur, AL May 17th weekend. Event is listed in the events page on the tour website.
Dana Aft, Chris Devila (owner of Cunningham’s) and April Wallen
Dana Aft, rebounding from a stunning, double-dip defeat at the hands of Brittany Bryant in the Music City Open (January 17-19), traveled to a warmer climate and went undefeated in the season opener of the Flamingo Billiards Tour; a $250-added event that drew 39 entrants to Cunningham's Pool and Darts in Vero Beach, FL on Saturday, January 25.
"It was the largest attendance we've ever had for a regular event," said Tour Director Mimi McAndrews. "Normally, we'll draw about 32, with the exception of our annual breast cancer fund-raiser (Cues for the Cure), which drew 50 last year."
The modified, double elimination event saw the 39 entrants play a straight, double elimination format until only four players were left on each side of the bracket. From there, the remaining eight players squared off in single elimination quarterfinal, semifinal and final matches. The player mix, according to McAndrews, was a combination of tour veterans and newcomers; Aft, a 2013 Amateur Women's champion, was, technically, a newcomer to the Flamingo Billiards Tour.
Aft was matched up against Roberts, whom she'd sent to the loss side 7-4 during the double elimination phase of the tournament. Wallen played Coyle, Seaver met Dukich, and Ger met up with Cavanaugh.
With echoes of Music City no doubt reverberating in her, Aft watched Roberts take a 4-1 lead in their quarterfinal re-match, before she responded with a six-pack that moved her into the semifinals. Wallen downed Coyle 7-1, Seaver defeated Dukich 7-3 and Ger got by Cavanaugh 7-4.
In the semifinals, Wallen defeated Seaver 7-5, as Aft picked up her pace a bit and eliminated Ger 7-1. So it was, that the two tour newcomers, Aft and Wallen, met up in the finals. Aft took the final set 7-3 to claim the first 2014 Flamingo Billiards Tour title.
Mimi McAndrews thanked Chris Devila and his staff at Cunningham's, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Simonis Cloth Satellite Tour, Boynton Billiards, and Martz Cues.
The next stop on the six, possibly, seven-stop tour is scheduled for March 8. The $250-added event will be hosted by Wally's in Lakeland, FL. The tour is scheduled through October and will conclude with the 6th Annual Cues for the Cure event.
