Donna Favors, Brewlands Billiards Manager Gina Valenti and Asia Cy
The new year brought new faces to the 2017 Tiger Florida Tour Women’s 9-Ball Kick-off event at Brewlands Billiards in Lakeland, Florida, and new faces in the finals. Among them Asia Cy, who made her debut on the TFT by going undefeated in the modified, double elimination format. Cy, who just arrived in Florida days ago from North Carolina, wasted no time getting acclimated to the Florida 9-ball climate. Cy finished the races to 7 easily over Celia Heinbach (7-2), Janice LaRocca (7-1), Stephanie Mitchell (7-3), Donna Favors (7-3) and Michell Monk (7-6) to make it to the Finals.
Favors got to the finals from the one-loss side with initial wins over Lauren Kowalski (7-3) and Lisa McElroy (7-6), then losing to Cy but defeating teen up-and-comer Kaylee McIntosh (5-3). Favors prevailed over Nicolle Cuellar in a tough hill-hill battle in the semi-finals to take on Cy once again in the final match. This was Favors first time in the finals as well. Cy and Favors went neck and neck for the first eight games, then Cy then broke loose and won the next three games for the win. Some of the matches can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZimU3Hg1UA.
Some surprises during the day saw McIntosh, who made the money for the first time, sending home three veteran players – Tour Champion Jeannie Seaver (5-2), Leslee Blaikie (5-1) and Jessica Barnes (5-3). Watch out for this rising star!
Thanks to all the players who turned out for this opening event. We also thank our returning title sponsor Tiger Products; and returning sponsors Great Lakes Billiards, Ultimate Chalkers, Boynton Billiards, AZ Billiards and Discount Mugs. Thank you to Chad Clement, Larry Walthall and Mike Dauskart and everyone at Brewlands Billiards for being great hosts!
Leslee Blaikee, Ashley Nandrasy, Nicolle Cuellar and Stephanie Mitchell
Winning TFT Stop #5 was not Stephanie Mitchell’s first win on the Tiger Florida Tour. In fact, this was her second win this year. Winning at her home turf just made it that much sweeter.
Mitchell is the owner of The Corner Pocket, host to TFT Stop #5. Despite the distractions of hosting a tournament in your own room, Mitchell was not to be stopped. She started out by defeating Jeri Bouvette 7-5; Cortney Bernard 7-1, before going west thanks to Nicolle Cuellar 7- 3. Mitchell stopped her friend and newcomer to the TFT, Casie Ayrnat, 5-3; and veteran regional tour player but also new to the TFT, Ashley Nandrasy, 7-5, in the semi-finals to match up against Leslee Blaikee.
Blaikee got to the finals after losing her first match to Tour Director Mimi McAndrews, 7-3. Leslie came to the tournament to win, though, and got past Julia Spinella and Donna Favors 5-3, won a hill-hill match with Courtney Bernard, and won 5-3 over Jessica Barnes and Michell Monk putting her in the finals against Mitchell.
In the final race to 7, however, Mitchell came alive and took the match 7-3 over Blaikee, who played strong all day, to her credit. Mitchell won the tournament and the paid Qualifying spot to Vivian Villareal’s Tornado Open at the Seminole Hardrock Casino at the end of September.
Two spots to the Women’s Amateur 9-ball were also up for grabs, won by Ayrnat and Sabra MacArthur Beahn.
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 Stephanie Mitchell for being a great host!
25 ladies gathered on February 20th for the 2016 Tiger Florida Tour (TFT) kick off event at Brewlands Billiards in Lakeland, FL. Tour veteran, Stephanie Mitchell, started the day off strong with notable wins over Crystal McCormick, Jessica Barnes and Vanessa Seaver. Ultimately, Mitchell and another seasoned tour player, Roe Guarnero, would meet in the finals with Mitchell securing a double hill win to take first place. Tour newcomer, Donna Favors, had an impressive debut with a 3/4 finish, alongside Jeannie Seaver. Cortney Bernard and Vanessa Seaver rounded out the top 6.
Exciting news! This is the first event where the TFT is affiliated with the newly formed North American Pool Tour (NAPT). The NAPT offers TFT members the chance to qualify to play in a NAPT National Championship, alongside other regional tours, as well as in NAPT Pro events.
Tiger Florida Tour would like to extend a huge thank you to Brewland Billiards for, yet again, hosting a wonderful event! A very special thanks to Tiger Products, returning as our title sponsor; new sponsor Ulterior Chalkers; Boynton Billiards; Great Lakes Billiards Supply and Discount Mugs.
Don’t miss our next stop at Boulevard Billiards in Ocala March 19th
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.