Boynton Beach, FL  (June 23, 2012) – There was not a more appropriate day for the third 2012 Flamingo Billiards Tour stop at Slate Billiards in Boynton Beach, Florida, than National Pink Flamingo Day! Sixteen players braved the wind and rain from tropical storm Debby to compete in the modified-double elimination format, playing down to the final four.  Two from each side redrew into a single elimination bracket. 

The first player to make it to the final four-board was Shanelle Loraine. Loraine made her way there defeating Kelly Coyle, Tour Director Mimi McAndrews, and Kelly Cavanaugh. Crystal McCormick was the second player on the final four- board, winning over Debbie Barkley, new player Juliette Waiter, and then sending Jeannie Seaver west in a much anticipated match up.  Seaver, who did not have her usual game on Saturday, came back after being down 6 -2, winning three games in a row making it 6-5. Just when it looked as if Seaver would get to the hill, a missed shot left McCormick out.

Kelly Cavanaugh, fresh off her first professional event at the WPBA US Open, was the third player to make it to the final four. Cavanaugh sent Cassidy Mulligan and Alicia DeAbreu to the west before losing to Shanelle Loraine.  Cavanaugh stayed in the event with a tough hill-hill battle against Sue Roberts. Roberts, who earlier sent Jennifer Page west, followed Page west courtesy of Seaver. Roberts then knocked out Cassidy Mulligan, to battle it out with Cavanaugh. On the hill, Roberts, with ball in hand and the 8-ball on the rail, over cut the 8-ball trying to get shape on the 9. That miss allowed Cavanaugh to take the game and the third spot on the final four-board.  

The last spot on the final four was filled by Seaver.  After defeating Robin Boggs and Sue Roberts, and then losing to McCormick, Seaver matched up again with Boggs.  Missing a crucial 9-ball that would have put Boggs on the hill, Seaver pocketed the 9 and took the last place on the final four board.

In the redraw Cavanaugh squared off against McCormick, who had been playing almost flawlessly all day. Seaver drew Loraine.  Both McCormick and Seaver won handily and advanced to the finals. Although Seaver’s game was off, and she had earlier lost to McCormick, McCormick couldn’t keep the momentum going and wasn’t able to take advantage of Seaver’s missed shots. Seaver went on to win the match and the third Flamingo Billiards Tour stop.

Many thanks to room owners Mike Bradford and Joe Sistarelli at Slate Billiards (www.slatebilliards.com), for being great hosts, and to Boynton Billiards for their continued support of the FBT.

The Flamingo Billiards Tour is a WPBA-recognized Regional Tour, and is a stepping stone to the Women’s Professional Billiard Association for women who want to play professionally.

The next stop is August 25, 2012, location to be announced. For more information, visit http://www.flamingobilliardstour.com/.

West Palm Beach, FL (June 9, 2012) – Jennifer Page and Debbie Barkley made it through the round robin format to the finals of the second FBT Mini-Tour event of 2012, held at Grover’s Billiards in West Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday, June 9, 2012.  In this handicapped event, the players played each player a set of 3 games, one 8-ball and two 9-ball.

Robin Boggs and Sue Roberts played strong, as did Alicia DeAbreau and Susan Martin.  The games were played on bar boxes, and the scores were very close.  Page and Barkley ended up with 11 games each. The final match was a race to five, with the winner of the lag picking the race or the game, 8-ball or 9-ball.  The match started with 8-ball, and Barkley took the lead 2-1. However, Page came back and took the lead in 9-ball.  But for Barkley’s scratch on the 8-ball it likely would have been a hill-hill match, but Page won the next game and the match.  In addition to cash, Page wins a paid entry to the Flamingo Billiard Tour stop at Slate Billiards in Boynton Beach, Florida on June 23, 2012.

Many thanks to Grover’s room owner Jason Jenkins for supporting the Flamingo Billiards Mini-Tour, and thanks to all the players who came out to play.

Boynton Beach, FL (Feb. 11, 2012) –Nicolle Martino of Stuart, Florida, won her first tournament at the Flamingo Billiards Tour 8-Ball/9-Ball Mini-Tour handicapped event on Saturday at Slate Billiards in Boynton Beach, Florida.  This event featured a new format.  Martino and the other players competed for a slot on the four-person, single elimination bracket. The four spots were filled from three single elimination brackets.  

Martino made it to the final four by winning the first bracket. Nicolle had to fight through Debbie Barkley, Christie Cloke and Marge Soash to make it to the finals.  Sue Roberts filled the second spot of the final four, winning the second bracket by defeating newcomer Jennie Samuels, Christie Cloke and Janis Sessions. Robin Boggs and newcomer Caress Ketcham took the final two of four spots, with Boggs defeating newcomer Sally Quilty and then going to the hill with Cloke.  Ketcham won over Soash and Samuels. 

The final four pitted Martino against Ketcham and Roberts against Boggs.  Martino and Boggs, both playing strong all day, made it to the finals with Martino eventually winning the match.

Many thanks to Mike Bradford and Joe Sistarelli, owners of Slate Billiards for their support of the Flamingo Billiards Mini Tour.

Results:

1st      Nicolle Martino    $45 and paid entry into the Flamingo Billiards Regional Tour 

2nd     Robin Boggs   $25

3rd/4th      Caress Ketcham and Sue Roberts $10

The Flamingo Billiards Tour is a WPBA-recognized Regional Tour, a stepping stone to the WPBA. The FBT Mini-Tour gives local women amateur players the opportunity to compete against the stronger FBT players, and a chance to win a free entry into a FBT event.