The legendary JOB Billiards Club in Madison, TN – a suburb of Nashville – presented the $7,000 added 35th Annual Music City Open this past week. Featuring multiple minis as well as the Open and Ladies Nine Ball events, there was action galore!
Joining JOB’s owner Ricky Gamble in special sponsorship was PoolActionTV.com as well as Aramith, Simonis and Diamond Billiard Products.
All events were played on seven foot Diamonds and play kicked off with on Wednesday evening with a single elimination race to seven nine ball mini tournament. The field was whittled down to Jesus Atencio & Mickey Krause – they split the pot. There was another mini tournament on Saturday night – these two split the pot again!
Players were back on Thursday night for the players auction, meeting & draw. A full field of 128 players entered this race to eleven winner breaks tournament.
Roberto Gomez began his march to the hot seat match after defeating Matt Moore (11-4), Jaime Mitchell (11-3), Rich McDonald (11-1), Johnathan (“Hennessee”) Pinegar (11-9), Jeffrey de Luna (11-9) and Billy Young (11-10).
The hot seat match was close but it was Gomez who locked up his seat in the finals 11-7. Mason would have to await an opponent on the one loss side.
Jeffrey de Luna edged out Mickey Krause (11-10) and then faced Koch to see who would advance to the finals. Jeff defeated Mason 11-4 and moved on to the finals. Mason finished in third place.
Since this was true double elimination, de Luna would have to defeat Gomez twice to win the tournament. However, it was not to be as Roberto won 11-9 to add the Music City Open title to his resume! Congratulations, Roberto! Good event, Jeff!
April Larson and Tina Malm
The Ladies Nine Ball division began on Friday night with 49 players playing in this race to seven winner breaks tournament.
Tina Malm advanced to the hot seat with wins over Casey Baldridge (7-4), Elizabeth Shilliam (7-2), Amanda Wilder (7-0), the always tough April Larson (7-5) and Janeen Lee (7-1).
The hot seat match was close but Malm closed it out with a 7-5 victory over Lovely. Liz headed west to await an opponent.
After losing a nailbiter to Heather Middleton in the fourth round 7-6, Kelly Isaac then edged out Amy Theriault (7-6) and beat Melissa Young (7-2) and Janeen Lee (7-0) until she was eliminated by April Larson (7-2). Kelly finished in fourth place.
Larson then defeated Lovely (7-4) to move into the finals. Liz finished in third place.
Again, since this was true double elimination, April had to defeat Tina twice to take the title. April won the first set 7-4 but Tina took the decider and the title with a 7- 4 win!Congratulations, Tina! Great effort, April!
PoolActionTV.com would like to thank Ricky Gamble and his staff for their exemplary efforts in taking care of all the players and fans.
We’d also like to thank Tournament Director Jason Hill for doing an excellent job in running all the different events.
PoolActionTV.com would also like to thank our sponsors and fans. Our sponsors include JB Cases, Hanshew Jump Cues, Simonis, Aramith, Lomax Custom Cues, Diamond Billiard Products, Durbin Custom Cues, Savage Billiards, the Action Palace of Dayton, OH and the Fort Worth Superstore of Fort Worth, TX.
And on to the Derby City Classic! Be sure to stop by our Aramith Action Room! The dates are January 20th-28th! Hope to see you there!
West Monroe, LA was the place to be this past week for the 5th Annual Scotty Townsend Memorial Pool Tournament. It was hosted by owner Josh Hoff at Arena Billiards.
Boasting $15,000 added, this year’s tournament had several events – one pocket, a 10 ball mini, open 9 ball and ladies 9 ball. Produced by Cue & A Promotions, local sponsors included James Hanshew of Hanshew Jump Cues, Interstate Dodge, Joe Long Attorney at Law, Magic Grill, Tommy Semmes Surveying, Simonis Cloth and Diamond Billiards.
The six-day poolfest started Tuesday evening with an auction and players meeting for the $7000 added Pro One Pocket event. Although the field only had eleven players, there wasn’t a lightweight in the bunch! Each paid $1000 to compete in this double elimination race to four event. Finals was to be one set – race to six.
Garcia, Calderon, Corteza, Chohan and Pagulayan drew the coveted byes. Frost and Morra, Biado and Woodward plus Compton and Gomez all battled down to the wire with Frost, Biado and Compton claiming victory 4-3.
Second round matches saw Frost edging out Garcia as did Calderon over Biado – each match also 4-3. Pagulayan defeated the always tough Chohan 4-2 and Compton skunked Corteza 4-0.
Down to four on the winners side, Frost pummeled Calderon and Pagulayan did the same to Compton with identical scores of 4-1. Compton and Calderon headed west while Frost and Pagulayan awaited the hot seat match.
Working their way through the one loss side of the chart, Woodward and Biado emerged to play each other. Carlo easily defeated Sky 4-1 leaving him with a fourth place finish.
The following day, fighting tooth and nail, Frost and Pagulayan battled it out in the hot seat match. Scott emerged the victor 4-3 locking up his seat in the finals. Alex had to play Carlo for the other berth.
Not to be denied another shot at Frost, Pagulayan defeated Carlo 4-2 leaving Carlo in third place.
As mentioned previously, the finals would be one set – race to six. Taking no prisoners, Alex smoked Scott 6-2 to claim the title!
Continuing his winning ways, Alex and Lee Vann split the top prize in the $1,000 added 10 Ball Mini!
The next day, 150 players put up their $100 entries for the $6,000 added Open 9 Ball event.Being played on bar boxes, the format was alternate break, rack your own and races to 9/7.
In dead punch, Alex Pagulayan continued on the warpath dispatching opponents Jeff Davies 9-1, James Jordan 9-0, Monroe Jones 9-3 and Jonathan Martin 9-0.
Running into Roberto Gomez, they battled it out but licking his wounds, Alex took him down too – final score 9-7. Not getting any easier, Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp was next. He fell too – 9-4! Then, Hong Kong’s Robbie Capito fought hard but he lost also – 9-7. Alex had arrived at the hot seat match.
Meanwhile, on the lower portion of the bracket, Joe Keith of Dyersburgh, TN, was slowly working his way through the mine fields! After initially drawing a bye in the first round and having a no-show in the second, Joe defeated Ceza Mungal 9-5, Eric Alcinena and Mark Krech – both 9-2 –before meeting Lee Vann Corteza.
They went down to the end but Joe pulled out a 9-7 victory! Sergio Rivas was next and Joe won 9-6. He had arrived at the hot seat match!
Hot seat action was pretty much all Alex as he sent Joe west with a score of 9-3. Joe headed west to await the results of the Capito-Rivas match.
This was a tough one too but when the smoke cleared, it was Robbie over Sergio 7-5. Capito and Keith were to cross swords to see who’d face Alex in the finals!
Joe Keith’s Cinderella story was not to be…Robbie Capito defeated him 9-3 to move into the finals against Alex. Joe finished in a solid third place for the event.
Only twenty years old and a former junior champion, Robbie would have to defeat the Lion twice to take the title.
The match started out neck and neck until Capito pulled out to an 8-3 lead! He was on the hill and breaking!
Robbie broke the balls but had no shot. Alex won the next two games to make it 8-5. Robbie broke the balls and made five balls on the break! Left with a long straight shot on the four, he fired it in, ran out the remaining few balls and forced a second set – final score 9-5.
Having won the flip, Alex won the first two games but Robbie tied it up. Alex went ahead the next two games and Robbie tied it up again. Alex pulled ahead to 5-4 and again, Robbie tied it up! Alex got to the hill first and Robbie tied it up! 6-6! WOW! One game for it all! To Robbie’s disappointment, Alex broke and ran out for the title!!! Good tournament, Robbie! So close…
What a great finals! Congratulations to Alex for taking both the nine ball and the one pocket events as well as splitting the 10 ball mini!
While the Open 9 Ball was in progress, the $1,000 added Women’s 9 Ball event began. Twenty eight ladies posted their $100 entry fees into this double elimination, alternate break event – races were also 7/5.
April Larson (Pool Action TV)
April Larson took top honors leaving Nicole Keeney in runner-up position & Janeen Lee finished in third place. Good job, ladies!!!
Thanks again to owner Josh Hoff and his staff for going the extra mile to make everyone feel at home while Tournament Director Jason Hill kept things running smoothly.
We’d also like to thank our sponsors and fans for another fantastic event! Our sponsors include Lomax Custom Cues, JB Cases, Durbin Custom Cues, StraightPoolEye, Hanshew Jump Cues, Aramith, Simonis, Diamond Billiard Products, the Action Palace of Dayton, OH and Fort Worth Billiards Superstore of Fort Worth, TX.
Our next stop is the Midwest Open Billiards Championships at Michael’s Billiards in Fairfield, OH. Dates are March 15th-20th. Hope to see you there!!!
(l to r): Winner Jenna Bishoff & Tour Champion Kim Pierce
Looking for her second 2019 tour victory, her first having come on the North Central Pool Tour in Illinois (August), Jenna Bishoff shifted south a bit to join the Jerry Olivier Ladies Tour in League City, TX for its 7th tour stop and season finale, where she met up with Jennifer Kraber three times. The last two meetings were in the finals where Bishoff double-dipped Kraber to claim the event title. The $3,000-added event drew 45 entrants to Legends Billiards in League City.
Kraber won the first of three versus Bishoff 7-5 and in the hot seat match, faced Sanders who’d sent Garland west 7-4. Kraber gave up only a single rack to Sanders in the match that followed, winning what proved to be her last match and claiming the hot seat.
Over on the loss side, Bishoff picked up Autumn Duncan, who’d been sent to the loss side in the second round by Michelle Cortez in a double hill fight and was in the midst of a seven-match, loss-side winning streak that included recent victories over Belinda Lee 7-1 and Kim Pierce 7-2, and was about to come to an end. Garland drew Janeen Lee, who’d recently eliminated Calaia Jackson and Michelle Cortez, both 7-5.
Bishoff’s bid for a rematch against Kraber in the hot seat was almost stopped by Duncan, who battled her to double hill before giving way and settling for the two-way tie for 5th place. Lee, in the meantime, defeated Garland 7-5 to join Bishoff in the quarterfinals.
Bishoff then chalked up three straight 7-2 wins; against Lee in the quarterfinals, Sanders in the semifinals and Kraber in the opening set of the true double elimination finals. Bishoff punctuated her run with a shutout over Kraber in the second set of the finals to claim the tour’s season finale title.
In what was described as a “battle to the (tour) finish line,” Kim Pierce was announced as the 2019 Jerry Olivier Ladies Tour Champion. Kelly Jones was identified as the tour’s Most Improved Player, while Calaia Jackson picked up the Best Sportsmanship Award; all were awarded trophies for the accomplishment. Pierce and Jones received free entries for 2020. Jackson will receive one free entry. Jennifer Kraber received a $50 scratch-off ticket at the tour’s player with the most break-and-runs. Jackson was identified as the competitor with the season’s most 9-on-the-breaks.
Tour representatives thanked Mindy and Craig Cohen and their Legends staff, as well as title sponsor Jerry Olivier Custom Cues and tour affiliates Mz Tam and Strokin’ Billiards.
(l to r): Molly Bontrager, Karen Corr, Eleanor Callado & Jia Li
She won the first one a little over a year ago; June, 2016. In the debut event of the fledgling North American Pool Tour at Breakers Sky Lounge in Herndon, VA, Karen Corr went undefeated through a field of 56 to capture her first and the first NAPT title. Two months later, the NAPT's first 10-Ball Summer Classic saw 16-year-old April Larson claim her first professional title. Just shy of a year later, August 17-20, Corr signed on to the $5,000-added, second 10-Ball Summer Classic and went undefeated again. Though it would be newcomer Molly Bontrager facing her in the hot seat match and veteran Eleanor Callado against her in the finals, Corr came within two matches (played and won by those two) of facing the same competitor she'd faced in the hot seat match and finals of the first 10-Ball Summer Classic, Jia Li.
Corr opened her march to the winners' circle by allowing only four racks against her through her first three matches. She gave up two against Amy Latzko in the opening round, none at all to Lisa Lehman in round two and two more against Meredith Lynch before running into Brittany Bryant in a winners' side quarterfinal. Bryant chalked up more against her (five) than all three of her previous opponents combined, but Corr advanced to her first match against Callado in a winners' side semifinal.
Molly Bontrager, in the meantime, moved into the other winners' side semifinal against Jia Li, Corr's opponent in the finals of the first NAPT event. Bontrager had shutout Rho Reyes, given up two to Nicole King, defeated five-time Junior National Champion, April Larson, and downed JPNEWT veteran Kia Sidbury for the right to face Li.
Corr downed Callado in their first of two, 7-3. Bontrager and Li battled to double hill before Bontrager advanced to the hot seat match against Corr. Corr sent Bontrager to a semifinal against Callado 7-4 and sat in the hot seat, waiting, as it turned out for Callado.
Over on the loss side, Callado picked up Sidbury, who, following her defeat at the hands of Bontrager, had eliminated Janeen Lee 7-2 and Kaylin Wykoff 7-3. Li drew Brittany Bryant, who, following her trip to the loss side, courtesy of Karen Corr, had downed Jenna Bishoff 7-2 and fought April Larson to double hill before advancing to face Li.
Callado got by Sidbury 7-2, and in the quarterfinals, faced Li, who'd put Bryant on the wrong side of her second double hill fight. Callado then ended Li's bid for a second NAPT finals match against Corr with a 7-4 win. It was Callado drawing that second chance card, as she eliminated Bontrager 7-4 in the semifinals. Corr downed Callado a second time, this time 6-1, to claim the NAPT Summer 10-Ball Classic, again.
NAPT President Adrianne Beach thanked the ownership and staff at Shooter's Bar, co-tournament directors Chris Rogers and Ford Rice, and the staff and crew of Railbird Productions which live-streamed the event throughout the weekend. The next NAPT Division I event, scheduled for September 28-October 1, will be hosted by Eagle Billiards in Dickson City, PA
Amy Acerra, whose pool-shooting career includes a victory over Janet Atwell on the Southeast Amateur Ladies Tour, back at the turn of the century, opened the Sport 9 Ladies Tour with an undefeated victory on the weekend of April 2-3. The $500-added event drew a short field of 11 entrants to Meucci Family Billiards in Byhalia, MS.
Accera advanced through to a winners' side semifinal versus Tina Frederick, as Patty Dietz squared off against Kim Housman. Accera moved into the hot seat match, following a shutout over Frederick, while Dietz was busy surviving a double hill victory over Housman. Accera claimed the hot seat with a double hill win over Dietz.
On the loss side, Frederick picked up Janeen Lee, who'd defeated LeAnn Marshall 7-2 and Sonya Hurst 7-5 to reach her. Housman drew Betty Lea, who'd eliminated Teresa Ballinger 7-5 and Kelly Jones 7-4.
Lee and Housman advanced to the quarterfinals. Lee handed Frederick her second straight shutout, as Housman locked up in her second straight double hill match; this time, emerging as the winner. Lee then ended Housman's weekend 7-4, and gave up only a single rack to Dietz in the semifinals. Accera put an end to Lee's loss side winning streak with a 7-4 victory in the finals to claim the event title.
Tara Williams worked her way through a very small field of 11 entrants, going undefeated to take the second stop on the Sport 9 Tour. The $500-added event, held on Saturday, May 23, was hosted by Lacy's Cue in Chalmette, Louisiana.
Williams and tour director Janeen Lee battled twice for the title. Williams sent Kim Housman to the loss side 9-4 in one winners' side semifinal, while Lee was busy shipping Susan Shinn over 9-5 in the other. Williams took the first of two against Lee 9-4 and sat in the hot seat, awaiting her return.
Housman and Shinn moved to the loss side and were immediately handed their second loss; Housman going down 7-6 to Jennifer Townsend, who'd gotten a first-round, loss-side bye and then defeated Patty Dietz 7-2, and Shinn falling 7-5 to Betty Lea, who'd defeated Kelly Jones 7-6 and Sonya Chbeeb 7-2.
Lea defeated Townsend 7-3 in the subsequent quarterfinals, leading to a Lee/Lea semifinal; the two, having finished 1st and 3rd, respectively, in the 2014 tour rankings. Lee prevailed 7-3, and got her second shot at Williams in the hot seat. Lee managed two more racks than she'd chalked up in the battle for the hot seat, but Williams completed her undefeated run 9-6 to claim the event title.
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.
The Sport 9 Ladies Tour opened its 2014 season on March 7th, 2014 at the Southaven Rec Center in Southaven, MS with two great events. The bar table mini open event started Friday night attracted 28 players competing for prize money and a premium cue case provided by Ozone Billiards. Blake Todd from Memphis, TN went undefeated, taking 1st place prize money and winner of the 2×4 grey lizard cue case. Danny Key, also from Memphis, TN, played a great game and collected 2nd place prize money. Jeff Sarbeck, from Southaven, MS, placed 3rd and Mike Jones from Mobile, AL came in 4th.
The Sport 9 Ladies event started Saturday morning, March 8th, with 12 ladies hailing from TN, AL, MS, MO and GA to compete for points and $525 in prize money. The ladies battled all day and night on the big tables race to 7 on the winners side and race to 5 on the losers side. Many of the matches went double hill, but coming out on top was 2013 Sport 9 Tour Champion Janeen Lee from Hattiesburg, MS taking home 1st place prize and points. Hot seat winner and newcomer, Kristan Tidwell from Decatur, AL took 2nd place. In 3rd place was local favorite Mackenzie Selby. Heather Middleton, sponsored by The Moneyball in Caruthersville, MO, proudly took home 4th place.
Sport 9 Tour would like to thank gracious host, Bill Rowsey, owner of Southaven Rec, and staff for their wonderful hospitality. Also, a huge thanks goes out to our supporters and sponsors including Bob Hunt, referee, Paul Frankel (Professor- Q-Ball) media relations, Josh Gilmore (Fair Game Clothing) photos, Ozone Billiards, Focus Gear, ingenPool (tournament software), GoPlayPool, and AZBilliards.
The next event will be held at Bumpers Billiards in Huntsville, Alabama on April 11th weekend. Sport 9 Tour is preparing for another successful event which will be its first live streamed event! Be sure to get front row seats!
Brittany Bryant lost an early round, double hill match to Liz Lovely, during the Music City Open Ladies event on the weekend of January 17-19. Bryant battled back through eight opponents on the loss side to eventually meet and double dip hot seat occupant and 2013 Amateur Women's Champion, Dana Aft, in the finals. It was Bryant's second Music City Open victory, having defeated Nicole Keeney in 2011. The $1,000-added Ladies event drew 48 entrants to JOB Billiards in Madison, TN.
Once she had sent Bryant to the loss side, Liz Lovely, looking for her second straight appearance in the Music City Ladies final, moved on, advancing to the winners' side final four and a match versus Aft. Grace Nakamura, in the meantime, met up with Samantha Patton in the other winners' side semifinal. Aft survived a double hill match versus Lovely, while Nakumura downed Patton 7-3. Aft got into the hot seat 7-4 over Nakamura.
It was Patton who drew Bryant on the loss side, already five victories into her eight-match winning streak, including elimination of Alison Hardwick 7-3 and Janeen Lee 7-4. Lovely drew Nicole Keeney, last year's Ladies winner, who'd shut out Amy Jones and eliminated Tracie Majors 7-5. Bryant defeated Patton 7-5, while a Bryant/Lovely re-match was avoided when Keeney won, double hill, over Lovely.
Bryant then gave up only a single rack in her quarterfinal win over Keeney, and dropped Nakamura into third place 7-5. Displaying evidence of a 'woman on a mission,' Bryant gave up only two racks over 16 games; one each in a two-set final, to claim the event title.
Dana Aft and Julie Cone met three times during the fourth stop on the Sport 9 Tour, held on the weekend of November 24-25. Aft took two out of the three matches, coming back from the loss side to double dip Cone (no pun intended) in the finals. The $350-added event drew 20 entrants to 6 Pockets Bar and Billiards in Decatur, AL.
They met first among the winners' side final four, when Cone's 7-3 win sent Aft west and Cone into the hot seat match. Facing Cone in the match was Rhonda Moses, who defeated tour director Janeen Lee 7-2. Cone got into the hot seat by the same score over Moses.
Aft's trip back to the finals began against Sonya Hurst, who'd defeated Linda Osborn 7-2 and just survived a double hill match against Cathy McDaniel. Lee faced Kristen Tidwell, who'd gotten by Patty Dietz 7-4 and Keely Tatum 7-3. Aft would win her next three matches by the same 7-2 score, beginning with a victory over Hurst, as Lee was downing Tidwell 7-4.
Aft dropped Lee into fourth place, and Moses into third to earn a second, double-elimination shot against Cone. Aft, who'd won the Women's Division of the 2013 US Amateur Championships two weeks earlier by defeating Melinda Huang in the finals, chalked up her third victory of the year (she'd won a stop on the Simonis Cloth Classic Tour in March) by double dipping Cone in the finals, 7-5 both times.
Tour director Lee thanked Paul McClain and his staff at 6 Pockets Bar and Billiards for their hospitality, as well as tour sponsors Robbie Patel and Professor Q-Ball.
