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Petrosino Pierces Gulf Coast Tour

Sophia Lopez, Terry Petrosino and Gail Eaton

Terry Petrosino, defeated Gail Eaton, to secure her first win on the Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour. It was the final event of the 2017 season, and a memorable win for Petrosino, having finished in second place, four times this year. 
 
On November 11th-12th, 2017, Fat Rack’s Sports Bar and Billiards in San Antonio, Texas, along with tour sponsors, Cyclop Pool Balls Facebook.com/CyclopPoolBalls, Ozone Billiards OzoneBilliards.com, APA of North Harris County Facebook.com/APANorthHarrisCounty, Outsville Billiards, and Jimmy Jenkins Realty, facilitated a successful, two-day, $1,000 added 9-ball event for Gulf Coast Tour competitors. 
 
At this event, the tour initiated an annual awards ceremony which recognizes and rewards players for their outstanding achievements in a number of categories. Gail Eaton was crowned 2017 Tour Champion (point leader) and received a plaque for her efforts. It was Eaton’s second tour championship, securing her first in 2013. Eaton also earned the new “Sportsmanship Award”, an award voted on by her peers. San Antonio’s Lois Morgado took home the inaugural “Most Improved Player Award”, while Gail Roles received the coveted “Rebecca Arcangeli Dubious Achievement Award”, honoring our recently fallen friend and player, Rebecca Arcangeli.  Rebecca loved to joke around and pull pranks, smiling and laughing all the while, and each year, one player will receive this award to honor that spirit. Lastly, a “Best Attendance” Award was given to Loretta Lindgren, Gail Roles, and Gail Eaton. Each player missed only one event, in the eleven-event season. Congratulations to all these deserving women.
 
Following the annual awards ceremony and a brief players’ meeting, Saturday’s matches commenced. Terry Petrosino was on her way with wins over Robyn Petrosino, 7-4, and Naomi Garcia, 7-2, while San Antonio’s Jennifer Dooley ousted tour newcomer Tara Sanchez, 7-4,  Erica “Hollywood” Hanlon, 7-5, and Gail “Thunder” Roles, 7-2. Gail “Virginia Slim” Eaton overcame Kim “Texas Heat” Pierce, 7-6, Tina Hess, 7-4, and Ellen Robinson, 7-2, while hometown favorite, Sophia Lopez, defeated Yvonne Asher, 7-5, newcomer Yvonne Martinez, 7-3, and Lois Morgado. Following a second round upset by Morgado, 7-5, Houston’s Jillian Nickerson ran through the west side eliminating Sanchez, 5-1, Loretta “The Gem” Lindgren, 5-0, and Garcia, 5-4. In similar fashion, following a first round loss to T. Petrosino, 7-2, Jennifer Yo took out Tam Trinh, 5-2, Tina Hess, and Roles, 5-3. The younger Petrosino bounced back, eliminating Hopey Lawrence (Carter), 5-3, Pierce, and Morgado. Asher made a stand, sending home Lufkin’s Toni Estevez, 5-3, San Antonio’s Edelina Flores, 5-3, and Hanlon, only to be thwarted by Robinson, 5-2. On Sunday, the final eight were back, and in the money. East side action witnessed Dooley overpower T. Petrosino, 7-4, and Lopez overwhelm Eaton, 7-2. Petrosino and Lopez teed off for the hot seat. The score was 6-5, Petrosino, when Lopez missed a seven-ball to tie the set. Petrosino closed it out, 7-5, drawing herself one step closer to the finish line. On the one loss side, Nickerson ended Yo, 5-1, and R. Petrosino finished off Robinson, 5-2. Nickerson’s run ended at the hands of Eaton, 5-0, while Dooley terminated R. Petrosino, 5-4. Eaton was on a mission, ousting Dooley, 7-2, and Lopez, 5-1, to meet Petrosino in an all-too familiar, finals match-up. Petrosino, in search of her first win on tour, and Eaton, looking for her sixth win this season, teed off in an unforgettable, season finale. The first set was a real crowd pleaser, with Eaton nosing ahead to the finish line, 7-6. In the second set of the true, double elimination final, in an immense display of heart and focus, Petrosino came back to defeat Eaton, 5-2, and capture her first win on the Gulf Coast Tour. Congratulations to Terry Petrosino, for breaking through in this final event, to earn her very first, Gulf Coast Tour title.
 
Gail Roles won her first, second chance event on tour, while Edelina Flores finished second. Congratulations to these ladies on earning a little gas money for their ride home. The tour would also like to welcome its newest members, Tara Sanchez, Yvette Martinez, and Michelle Moreno. Welcome to the club!
 
The first event of the 2018 season will be held February 10th-11th at Bogies Billiards West, 9638 Jones Road in Houston, Texas. This 9-ball event will be two-days, played on 8’ tables with Cyclop Pool Balls. For more information about the WPBA sanctioned, Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour, visit GulfCoastWomensTour.com. 
 
The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour is sanctioned by the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA), and is open to amateur, female players of all ages. The top 32 WPBA Exempt Professionals are not eligible to participate. The WPBA is the governing body of women’s professional billiards in the U.S. The WPBA Regional Tour System is the grass roots effort that feeds the WPBA Pro Billiards Tour. As a WPBA Regional Tour Member, players gain access to WPBA Pro Event Qualifiers and earn valuable WPBA Regional Tour Points which count toward earning invitations to the annual WPBA Regional Tour Championship and WPBA Pro Events. Whether it’s simply to challenge yourself, improve your game, or become a recognized professional, support and become a part of the longest-running, women’s sports organization in the U.S.; the WPBA.
 
If you are interested in starting a WPBA Regional Tour in your area, or participating on a WPBA Regional Tour, please contact the WPBA Office at 1.855.FOR.WPBA or visit www.WPBA.com. 

Yo Claims Second Win on Gulf Coast Tour

(l to r) Brittany Williams, Jennifer Yo

Austin’s Jennifer Yo did it the hard way, coming through the one loss side to defeat Brittany Williams in the finals, and secure her second Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour title. In February of this year, Yo captured the first tournament of her career on the Gulf Coast Tour, and her second win more than establishes her position among the most talented, female players, spanning Texas and Louisiana.

 

On May 27th-28th, 2017, the Gulf Coast Tour held its 6th stop of the year at one of its newest venues, CK Billiards in Dallas, Texas. Room manager, Jamie Charbonneau, and tour sponsors Cyclop Pool Balls www.facebook.com/CyclopPoolBalls, Ozone Billiards www.OzoneBilliards.com, APA of North Harris County www.facebook.com/apanorthharriscounty, Jimmy Jenkins Realty, and www.OutsvillBilliards.com, facilitated a successful tournament which featured a two-day 9-ball event, non-smoking venue, and a generous $1,000 added to the prize fund.  Players from all over Texas and Louisiana, representing Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Weatherford, San Marcos, Pflugerville, Boerne, and Shreveport, including Dallas locals, converged on the pool room to enjoy a weekend of comradery and competition.

 

Match play commenced at noon on Saturday, and brought back the final six players on Sunday.  In only her second appearance on tour, hailing from Hallsville, Texas, Brittany Williams came out firing, ousting San Antonio’s Megan Hardin, 7-1, Dallas’ Aryana Lynch, 7-2, and Veronica “Pistol” Perez, 7-3, while Kim “Texas Heat” Pierce took down newcomer Ellen Robinson, 7-4, Gail “Thunder” Roles, 7-2, and Cindy Cole, 7-4. Jennifer Yo was on a roll, securing wins over Sophia Lopez, 7-1, Angie Payne, 7-5, and Jennifer Dooley, 7-4, while recent event winner, Kawania Watson, overcame Sherry Gear, 7-3, and Shreveport’s Tina Williams, 7-6.  As the winners’ side final four unfolded, the one loss side was in full swing, with 14-year old Lynch eliminating Shreveport’s Doria Rhone, 5-1, newcomer Stacy Tucker, 5-1, Dooley, 5-3, and T. Williams, 5-0, to reach the final six. After suffering a loss to B. Williams in the third round, Perez came back with wins over Payne, 5-4, and Cole, 5-0, also reaching the final six, and the money. Back on the east side, Williams slid by Pierce, 7-6, and Watson defeated Yo, 7-4, pitting Williams and Watson for the hot seat. Watson fought an impressive battle, but when the smoke cleared, it was Williams by a game, 7-6. On the west side, Yo came back to life, ending Perez, 5-3, while Pierce overwhelmed Lynch, 5-1. Yo went on to defeat Pierce, 5-4, and redeemed herself against Watson, 5-1, marking her third win on the one loss side. The final match featured an undefeated Williams, vying for her first-ever tour victory, and Yo, going for win number two, as the first set of the true double elimination final got underway. Yo took the first set, 7-4, but Williams wasn’t down for the count. The second set was a real crowd pleaser, and although Williams fought diligently, Yo came with it, hill-hill, ending the second set, 5-4. Congratulations to Jennifer Yo on her second title, and Brittany Williams on her highest finish to date, on the Gulf Coast Tour.

 

The Gulf Coast Tour welcomes its newest members, Stacy Tucker (Dallas, TX), Doria Rhone (Shreveport, LA), Chris Fields (Weatherford, TX), Amy Reece (Dallas, TX), Cindy Cole (Dallas, TX), Keingchay Phoutthavong (Dallas, TX), and Ellen Robinson (San Marcos, TX).

 

Ellen Robinson took home her very first “W”, going undefeated to win the Gulf Coast Tour’s first-ever, second chance 9-ball tournament! Aryana Lynch and Veronica Perez achieved their highest finishes to date, 5th-6th, while Cindy Cole exceeded her personal best, finishing 7th-8th. Congratulations to all those who are making history and reaching milestones, on the Gulf Coast Tour.

 

The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour is open to amateur players of all ages and skill levels. The next Gulf Coast Tour 9-ball event will be held on June 10th, at Bogies Billiards and Sports Bar, 3040 FM 1960, in Houston, Texas. This event will be $500 added with 32 players, played on 9’ tables, with Cyclop Pool Balls. Free practice begins at 10am, and the mandatory players’ meeting begins at 11am. For more information about the WPBA sanctioned, Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour, visit GulfCoastWomensTour.com. Follow us on Facebook @gulfcoasttour1 and Twitter @gulfcoasttour.

 

The WPBA (Women’s Professional Billiard Association) is the governing body of women’s professional billiards, and the longest running, professional billiard organization, in the United States. The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour is a sanctioned, WPBA Regional Tour, part of the grass roots system, feeding new talent into the WPBA Pro Billiards Tour. WPBA Regional Tour Player dues, in the amount of $25 per year, are paid directly to the WPBA, and help fund programs for professional and regional tour players, support the WPBA’s mission to produce world-class events, and grow the sport of pocket billiards by increasing its visibility as a respected and true, professional sport.

Watson Claims First Victory on Gulf Coast Tour

Gail Eaton, Kawania Watson, Jennifer Dooley and Jennifer Yo

The event was one for the books, as San Antonio’s Kawania Watson went unchallenged amidst an impressive field of 25 semi-professional players to capture her first Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour 9-ball event. Watson, who joined the tour in November 2016, fell short in her first outing, finishing 9th, but made up for it in only her second start on tour. She secured the hot seat match, taking down the tour’s current #1 ranked player, Gail Eaton, 7-6. In the finals, she defeated #2 ranked, Austin’s Jennifer Yo, 7-4, notching her belt with a first-time, Gulf Coast Tour victory. 
 
On May 6th, 2017, the Gulf Coast Tour held its 5th stop of the year at Skinny Bob’s Billiards in Round Rock, Texas. Room owners John and Sue Cielo, along with tour sponsors Cyclop Pool Balls www.facebook.com/CyclopPoolBalls, Ozone Billiards www.OzoneBilliards.com, APA of North Harris County www.facebook.com/apanorthharriscounty, Realtor Jimmy Jenkins, and www.OutsvillBilliards.com,  facilitated another successful event for the women of the  Gulf Coast Tour. Dubbed the “8th Annual Texas 9-Ball Shoot-Out”, the one-day, open bar table event, paid out a generous $900, and featured a non-smoking, private playing area with eight (8) new Diamond bar tables. “This is our eighth, consecutive year hosting events at Skinny Bob’s. We’d like to thank John and Sue for their generosity over the years, and for being a constant source of support for the Texas pool community”, says Gulf Coast Tour and Poison Lone Star Tour Director, Kim Newsome.
 
Following a short players’ meeting, action kicked off around noon, and Watson began her trek to the winners’ circle. She booked wins over Lisa Pinkston, Kris Wilburn, 7-2, and Megan Hardin, 7-1, while Jennifer Dooley bested Cheryl Gaffaney, Toni Estevez, 7-6, and Amber Keithley, 7-3. Jennifer Yo overcame Louisiana’s Hopey Carter, 7-3, and Yvonne Asher, 7-4, while Gail Eaton, aka “Virginia Slim”, bested former WPBA player and tour newcomer, Tina Hess, 7-4, Aryana Lynch, 7-2, and Veronica Perez aka “Pistol Perez”, 7-0. As the final four on the winners’ side took shape, one-loss side action was in full swing. Newest tour member, Cindy Barthel, lost her first match to Perez, and went on to eliminate Estevez, 5-3, Gail Roles, 5-0, and Asher, 5-1. After losing her first match to Asher, San Antonio’s Sophia Lopez took out Lois Morgado, 5-2, and Wilburn, 5-4, but fell to Perez, 5-2. Barthel took out Perez, 5-2, sliding into 5th-6th, and in the money. Teenage phenom, Lynch, suffered a first-round loss at the hands of Loretta Lindgren, and made her bid on the one-loss side with wins over Diana Cardona, 5-3, and Marilina Nieves, 5-1, but was sent home by Hardin, 5-3. Carter secured west-side wins over Pinkston, 5-3, Rebecca Arcangeli, 5-4, and Keithley, 5-1, before falling to Hardin, 5-2. While Barthel and Hardin secured their place in the top six, the east side final four witnessed Watson slip by Dooley, 7-6, and Eaton make quick work of Yo, 7-3. The hot seat match between Watson and Eaton was a fight to the finish, and a real crowd pleaser. When the smoke cleared, it was Watson on top, 7-6. Back on the west side, Yo defeated Hardin, 5-0, while Dooley ended Barthel’s run, 5-2. Yo eliminated Dooley, 5-0, and Eaton, 5-3, to meet Watson in the finals. Watson was hungry for her first tour win, and Yo was going for her second victory of the year. Watson rose to the occasion, defeating Yo in the first set of the true double elimination final, 7-4. Congratulations to Kawania Watson on her first-ever, Gulf Coast Tour win!
 
The Gulf Coast Tour welcomes its newest member, Cindy Barthel, who also achieved her highest tournament finish to date (5th-6th), at this event. Jennifer Dooley and Megan Hardin booked their highest finishes as well,  4th and 5th-6th, respectively. Congratulations to all those who reached a milestone at this event.
 
The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour is open to players of all ages and skill levels, however, the top 32 WPBA Exempt Professionals are not permitted to participate. The next Gulf Coast Tour 9-ball event will be held on May 27th-28th, at CK Billiards, 9247 Skillman St., Suite 105, in Dallas, Texas. This event will be $1,000 added, played on 8’ tables, with Cyclop Pool Balls. This event will also be a qualifier for a 2018 WPBA Pro Event. Free practice begins at 10am, and the mandatory players’ meeting begins at 11am. For more information about the WPBA sanctioned, Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour, visit GulfCoastWomensTour.com. Follow us on Facebook @gulfcoasttour1 and Twitter @gulfcoasttour.
 
The WPBA (Women’s Professional Billiard Association) is the governing body of women’s professional billiards in the U.S. The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour is a sanctioned, WPBA Regional Tour, part of the grass roots system that feeds the WPBA Pro Billiards Tour. Amateur and semi-professional, female players, who aspire to play women’s professional billiards, must qualify through this elite system in order to attain the sought-after title, WPBA Exempt Professional. Have you ever considered taking your game to the next level, looking for a different challenge? Are you tired of the same old week-in, week-out routines deterring the progress of your game? Is it your dream to play in a pro event, or turn pro? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to find the WPBA Regional Tour nearest you. Exclusively, WPBA Regional Tour Players gain access to WPBA Pro Event Qualifiers and earn valuable WPBA Regional Tour Points which count toward earning invitations to the annual WPBA Regional Tour Championship and WPBA Pro Events. Live your dream, support and become a part of, the longest-running, professional billiard organization in the U.S., the WPBA.
 
If you are interested in starting a WPBA Regional Tour in your area, or participating on a WPBA Regional Tour, please contact the WPBA Office at 1.855.FOR.WPBA or visit www.WPBA.com. 

Eaton Dominates on Gulf Coast Tour

Terry Petrosino, Gail Eaton and Robyn Petrosino

Gail “Virginia Slim” Eaton came out on top amidst an impressive field of 27 semi-professional players to capture the Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour April Fool’s 9-Ball Event. Eaton captured the hot seat over Robyn Petrosino, 7-2, while Terry Petrosino made her way through the one-loss side, to meet Eaton in the finals. Eaton slid by Petrosino in the final game of the hill-hill thriller, capturing the first set, and her third Gulf Coast Tour victory of 2017.
 
On April 1st, 2017, some of the most talented female pool players in Texas and Louisiana converged on Bogies Billiards and Sports Bar in Houston, Texas, to compete in the one-day, $500 added 9-ball event, vying for a place in the Gulf Coast Tour winners’ circle. Room owners David and Shannon Richardson, along with tour sponsors Cyclop Pool Balls www.facebook.com/CyclopPoolBalls, Ozone Billiards www.OzoneBilliards.com, APA of North Harris County www.facebook.com/apanorthharriscounty, Realtor Jimmy Jenkins, and www.OutsvillBilliards.com,  facilitated another successful event for the women of the  Gulf Coast Tour, the fourth of 11 events scheduled for 2017. 
 
Following a short players’ meeting, action kicked off around noon, and Eaton made her way with wins over Teresa Garland, 7-5, and Tiffany Mundie, 7-4, while Kim “Texas Heat” Pierce ousted Joyce Davis, Terry “The Terrorizer” Petrosino, 7-3, and Natalie Rocha, 7-5. Gail “Thunder” Roles slipped past  San Antonio’s Jennifer Dooley, 7-6, and Louisiana’s Hopey Carter, 7-5, while Robyn Petrosino dominated Loretta Lindgren, 7-1, Naomi Garcia, 7-2, and Aryana Lynch, 7-4. On the one-loss side, T. Petrosino won an incredible seven straight sets, including wins over Letty Tristan, 5-3, Lindgren, 5-4, and Carter, 5-1, which landed her in the final eight. Lynch eliminated Garland, 5-2, Toni Esteves ended Mundie, 5-2, and Yvonne Asher took out Natalie Rocha, 5-3. Back on the east side, R. Petrosino dealt Roles her first blow, 7-3, as Eaton escaped Pierce, 7-6. In the hot seat match, Eaton overwhelmed R. Petrosino, 7-2, while T. Petrosino was dealing out destruction on the one-loss side. T. Petrosino eliminated Lynch, 5-0, and Asher overcame Roles, 5-3.  T. Petrosino went on to defeat Asher, 5-1, and R. Petrosino, 5-3, amassing seven straight wins before meeting Eaton in the finals. In the final match, Petrosino hit the ground running, commanding a 6-4 lead, applying pressure, while Eaton maintained composure. At 6-4, a seemingly decent safety on the 7-ball turned into a long-rail bank for Eaton.  The bank was executed successfully, and led to a shift in momentum that propelled Eaton to victory, by a score of 7-6.
 
The Gulf Coast Tour welcomes new members, Jenny Harrington, Letty Tristan, and Tresha Simpson! A special “congratulations” goes out to Robyn Petrosino who achieved her highest tournament finish to date on the Gulf Coast Tour!
 
The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour is open to players of all ages and skill levels, however, the top 32 WPBA Exempt Professionals are not permitted to participate. The next Gulf Coast Tour 9-ball event will be held on May 6th, 2017, at Skinny Bob’s Billiards, 300 Hester’s Crossing, in Round Rock, Texas. This event will be played in the non-smoking room, on Diamond bar tables, with Cyclop pool balls. The bar tables will be open. Free practice begins at 10am, and the mandatory players’ meeting begins at 11am. For more information about the WPBA sanctioned, Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour, visit GulfCoastWomensTour.com. Follow us on Facebook @gulfcoasttour1 and Twitter @gulfcoasttour.
 
The WPBA (Women’s Professional Billiard Association) is the governing body of women’s professional billiards in the U.S. The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour is a sanctioned, WPBA Regional Tour, part of the grass roots system that feeds the WPBA Pro Billiards Tour. Amateur and semi-professional, female players, who aspire to play women’s professional billiards, must qualify through this elite system in order to attain the sought-after title, WPBA Exempt Professional. Have you ever considered taking your game to the next level, looking for a different challenge? Are you tired of the same old week-in, week-out routines deterring the progress of your game? Is it your dream to play in a pro event, or turn pro? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to find the WPBA Regional Tour nearest you. Exclusively, WPBA Regional Tour Players gain access to WPBA Pro Event Qualifiers and earn valuable WPBA Regional Tour Points which count toward earning invitations to the annual WPBA Regional Tour Championship and WPBA Pro Events. Live your dream, support and become a part of, the longest-running, professional billiard organization in the U.S., the WPBA.
 
If you are interested in starting a WPBA Regional Tour in your area, or participating on a WPBA Regional Tour, please contact the WPBA Office at 1.855.FOR.WPBA or visit www.WPBA.com. 
 

 

Jennifer Yo Wins First Event on Gulf Coast Tour

Natalie Rocha, Jennifer Yo and Gail Eaton

Jennifer Yo came out on top amidst an impressive field of 46 semi-professional players to capture the Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour Spring 9-Ball Event, and the first championship title in her pool career. The Austin, Texas player faced off with Houston’s own Natalie Rocha in a fight to the bitter finish. Although Rocha bested Yo in the first set of the true double elimination final, 7-6, Yo came back to win the second set, 5-4. 
 
On February 11th, 2017, some of the most talented female pool players in Texas and Louisiana converged on Bogies West in Houston, Texas, to compete in the one-day, $500 added 9-ball event, vying for a place in the Gulf Coast Tour winners’ circle. Room owners David and Shannon Richardson, along with tour sponsors Cyclop Pool Balls www.facebook.com/CyclopPoolBalls, Ozone Billiards www.OzoneBilliards.com, APA of North Harris County www.facebook.com/apanorthharriscounty, and www.OutsvillBilliards.com,  facilitated another successful event for the women of the  Gulf Coast Tour, the second of 11 events scheduled for 2017. Growing by leaps and bounds, the WPBA sanctioned regional tour has already amassed a following of 67 player members this year, in addition to securing a new venue, CK Billiards, in Dallas, Texas. Last year the tour amassed 76 player members, the highest to date, and because this year’s numbers are already high, the tour anticipates breaking 100 player members before the end of 2017.  
 
A Gulf Coast Tour victory has eluded Jennifer Yo since 2014, when she finished second to Jennifer Kraber in her first Gulf Coast Event. Since then, Yo has been working on her game, and her 2017 Gulf Coast Tour season proves it. The first event of the year witnessed Yo losing a finals match to Gail Eaton, but at this event, second place was in the rear view mirror. Yo made her way to the final four winners’ side with wins over Amber Keithley, 7-2, Tangela Hunt, 7-1, Terri Resendez, 7-3, and Robyn Petrosino, 7-4, while Kim “Texas Heat” Pierce staked her claim, ousting Jennifer Dooley, 7-2, Julie Enzensperger, 7-2, Tiffany Mundie, 7-3, and Mercedes Vasquez, 7-5. Ricki Casper took down Tina Williams, 7-6, Veronica “Pistol” Perez, 7-4, Loretta Lindgren, 7-3, and Diana Cardona, 7-3, while seasoned veteran, Gail “Virginia Slim” Eaton, took out Cindy Tillman, 7-0, Gail Roles, 7-2, and newcomer Brittany Williams, 7-4. The final four was also taking shape on the one loss side. Williams took out Teresa Garland, 5-3, while Perez came back to win four straight matches, eliminating first-time player Audrey Arcelli, 5-1, Megan Hardin, 5-4, Monica DeTuncq, 5-2, and Diana Cardona, 5-1. The youngest player on tour, 14-year old Aryana Lynch, dusted off Lindgren, 5-2, and R. Petrosino, 5-2, while Natalie Rocha, who lost her second match to Erica Hanlon, 7-4, went on to defeat Liz Mitchel, 5-1, Terry Petrosino, 5-4, Vasquez, 5-2, and Lynch, 5-3. Back on the east side, Yo took care of Pierce, 7-5, and Eaton made quick work of Casper, 7-2. The hot seat match was set, and players fought to stay alive on the one loss side. Williams ended Perez’ run, 5-2, and eliminated Pierce, while Rocha bested Lynch, 5-3, then Casper, 5-4. The hot seat match witnessed Yo defeat Eaton in a tightly-knit race, 7-6. Back on the one loss side, with her head still above water, Rocha went on to eliminate Williams, 5-4, and Eaton, 5-2, tallying seven straight wins to meet Yo in the finals. There was no doubt about it, Rocha was gaining momentum with each win, and the first set of the finals was no different. Yo’s chances were few and far between, as Rocha kept pace, annihilating the hot seat winner, 7-1, for her eighth consecutive win. In the final set, Yo’s tenacity emerged, and in true champion form, she captured the second set in a hill-hill thriller, 5-4. Congratulations to Jennifer Yo on her first-ever win in her pool career!
 
 
Gulf Coast Tour welcomes brand new members Brittany Williams (Longview, TX), Audrey Arcelli (Round Rock), Kaleigh Reiland (Webster, TX), and Amber Watts (Quitman, TX). A special “congratulations” goes out to Veronica “Pistol” Perez who achieved her highest tournament finish to date, and newcomer Brittany Williams who participated in her very first event, and finished in fourth place!
 
The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour is open to players of all ages and skill levels, however, the top 32 WPBA Exempt Professionals are not permitted to participate. The next Gulf Coast Tour 9-ball event will be held on March 18th, 2017, at Bogies Billiard, 3040 FM 1960 East, in Houston, Texas. This event will be played on 9’ tables with Cyclop TV Set Pool Balls. Free practice begins at 10am, and the mandatory players’ meeting begins at 11am. For more information about the WPBA sanctioned, Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour, visit GulfCoastWomensTour.com. Follow us on Facebook @gulfcoasttour1 and Twitter @gulfcoasttour.
The WPBA (Women’s Professional Billiard Association) is the governing body of women’s professional billiards in the U.S. The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour is a sanctioned, WPBA Regional Tour, part of the grass roots system that feeds the WPBA Pro Billiards Tour. Amateur and semi-professional, female players, who aspire to play women’s professional billiards, must qualify through this elite system in order to attain the sought-after title, WPBA Exempt Professional. Have you ever considered taking your game to the next level, looking for a different challenge? Are you tired of the same old week-in, week-out routines deterring the progress of your game? Is it your dream to play in a pro event, or turn pro? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to find the WPBA Regional Tour nearest you. Exclusively, WPBA Regional Tour Players gain access to WPBA Pro Event Qualifiers and earn valuable WPBA Regional Tour Points which count toward earning invitations to the annual WPBA Regional Tour Championship and WPBA Pro Events. Live your dream, support and become a part of, the longest-running, professional billiard organization in the U.S., the WPBA.
 
If you are interested in starting a WPBA Regional Tour in your area, or participating on a WPBA Regional Tour, please contact the WPBA Office at 1.855.FOR.WPBA or visit www.WPBA.com. 

Casper Surges on Gulf Coast Tour

Ricki Casper

It was another fiery start for Houston’s Ricki Casper who took the 31-player field by storm at the third Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Tour 9-ball event of 2016. Casper constructed a wave of destruction, taking down formidable WPBA Player Kim “Texas Heat” Pierce in the final, and going undefeated to win her second tour event of the season.
 
The event was hosted by Ariana’s in Houston, Texas, and along with tour sponsors Delta-13 Rack www.delta-13.com, and the APA of North Harris County www.facebook.com/apanorthharriscounty, facilitated a very successful event. Ariana’s catered to 31 Gulf Coast Tour players, offering free play on all bar tables, and providing free food for the entire event.  The tour would like to thank Ariana’s owners, Minh and Bill Hammond, and staff, for their gracious hospitality and years of continued support!
 
On the battle field, 2015 Gulf Coast Tour Champion, Ricki Casper, fought her way through a distinguished field of talent, booking wins over Kasey Mikoljczyk, 7-0, Jennifer Dooley, 7-3, and Angie Payne. Teresa Garland made her way to the final four winners’ side, ousting D’Andrea McQuirter, 7-1, Tiffany Mundie, 7-3, and Theresa Gutierrez, 7-4. Gail Roles took down Lisa Pinkston, 7-3, Regine Delores, 7-3, and Yvonne Asher, 7-5. The final four winners’ side rounded out and the one-loss side took shape, as Theresa Gutierrez eliminated Loretta Lindgren, 4-3, Angie Payne ousted Tangela Hunt, 4-0, Tiffany Mundie overwhelmed Joyce Davis, 4-1, and Liz Mitchel overcame Yvonne Asher, 4-2.  Back on the east side, Pierce defeated Roles, and it was Casper over Garland, 5-4. Casper went on to defeat Pierce for the hot seat, 5-4. On west side, Garland ousted Mundie, and Roles eliminated Payne, 4-1. Garland ended Roles, 4-2, but fell to Pierce, 4-1. With that victory, Pierce earned another shot at Casper, and the title. In the finals, both players remained focused until the bitter end. At 4-4, Casper pulled ahead to secure her second tour victory of the year. The tour would like to offer special congratulations to Gail Roles and Tangela Hunt, who achieved their highest finishes to date in their billiards careers, and welcome its newest members, Joyce Davis and Lisa Pinkston. Newcomer Joyce Davis also made a spectacular debut, finishing in the money in her first event. The Gulf Coast Tour looks forward to seeing many more outstanding accomplishments from its players!
 
The Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Tour is open to players of all ages and skill levels, however, the top 32 WPBA Exempt Professionals are not permitted to participate. The next event will be the Gulf Coast’s “WPBA 40th Anniversary Event” held on Saturday, June 11th, 2016, at Bogies Billiards and Sports Bar, located at 3040 FM 1960 E., Houston, Texas, 77073. For more information about the Gulf Women’s Regional Tour, please visit www.GulfCoastWomensTour.com. “Follow” us on Twitter @gulfcoasttour and “Like” us on Facebook @gulfcoasttour1. 
 
The WPBA (Women’s Professional Billiard Association) is the governing body of women’s professional billiards in the U.S., and this year, celebrates its 40th anniversary. The Gulf Coast Tour is a sanctioned, WPBA Regional Tour, a part of the grass roots system that feeds the WPBA Pro Billiards Tour. Amateur and semi-professional, female players, who aspire to play women’s professional billiards, must qualify through this elite system in order to attain the sought-after title, WPBA Exempt Professional. Have you ever considered taking your game to the next level, looking for a different challenge? Are you tired of the same old week-in, week-out routines deterring the progress of your game? Is it your dream to play in a pro event, or turn pro? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to find the WPBA Regional Tour nearest you. Exclusively, WPBA Regional Tour Players gain access to WPBA Pro Event Qualifiers and earn valuable WPBA Regional Tour Points which count toward earning invitations to the prestigious WPBA Regional Tour Championship and WPBA Pro Events. Live your dream, support and become a part of, the longest-running, professional billiard organization in the U.S., the WPBA.
 
If you are interested in starting a WPBA Regional Tour in your area, or participating on a WPBA Regional Tour, please contact the WPBA Office at 1.855.FOR.WPBA or visit www.WPBA.com. 

Lindgren Lands Second Gulf Coast Title

Yvonne Asher and Loretta Lindgren

Loretta Lindgren executed a come-from-behind victory in a 48 player field to secure the second stop on the WPBA sanctioned, Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Tour. Lindgren suffered an early loss to Belinda Lee, 5-3, and rebounded to meet hot seat winner, Yvonne Asher, in the finals. This was Asher’s debut in a Gulf Coast final, and a first-time, finals face-off for the pair. A seasoned Lindgren overcame Asher in overtime, 5-3, 5-1, to secure her second-ever, Gulf Coast Tour 9-ball title.
 
On February 27, 2016, the Gulf Coast Tour converged on Bogies Billiards West, in Houston Texas, and thanks to room owner David Richardson, tour sponsors Delta-13 Rack and the APA of North Harris County, the Gulf Coast women couldn’t have been more pleased with the success of this event. Great competition and impressive player numbers have set the tone for this year’s Gulf Coast Tour. In full swing for 2016, the “Coast” kicked off an amazing first quarter, with a running total of 53 official WPBA Members, averaging 44 players per event. Tour director, Kimberly Newsome, commented about the growing popularity of the tour. “I expected the tour to grow, but never this big, this fast. The WPBA has expanded our territory to include Louisiana and Oklahoma, and we’re currently in search of venues to host events in those states. We anticipate holding multiple qualifiers for the 2017 WPBA Masters and sending an increased number of invitees to the 2017 WPBA Regional Tour Championships. It’s going to be a year for the record books.”
 
The battlefield was explosive in this one-day, 9-ball extravaganza, as Lorna McEwan made her bid for the final four, with wins over Brandi Humber, D’Andrea McQuirter, Mercedes Vasquez, 5-4, and Toni Esteves, 5-4, while Robyn Petrosino powered through Kim Jenkins, 5-3, Ricki Casper, and Gail Eaton, 5-1. On her way as well, Yvonne Asher bested Angie Payne, 5-2, Natalie Rocha, 5-4, and Cindy Watson, 5-2, while Terry Petrosino (Robyn’s mother) defeated Mindy Williams, Jennifer Dooley, 5-1, and Belinda Lee, 5-1. As the winners’ side was shaping up, the one loss side witnessed 2015 tour champion, Ricki Casper, eliminate Mindy Williams, Tam Trinh, and Cindy Watson, by the same score, 5-1. Angie Payne had an incredible run after suffering a second round loss at the hands of Asher, 5-2, eliminating Mary Reyes, 5-3, Kim Pierce, Mercedes Vasquez, Sara Bork, and Belinda Lee, to face-off with Casper. Lindgren also made her way through the east side with victories over Karen Hughes, 5-0, Jennifer Dooley, 5-3, and Toni Esteves, 5-2, while Natalie Rocha defeated Liz Yorek, 5-1, and Michelle Yim, 5-3, to meet Lindgren. Back on the east side, R. Petrosino ousted McEwan, 5-2, and Asher slid by T. Petrosino, 5-4, ending the possibility of a mother-daughter, hot seat duel. Asher defeated R. Petrosino for the hot seat, 5-2, and it was anyone’s guess who would power down the one loss road to meet Asher at the end. Back on the west side, Casper ended McEwan’s run, and Lindgren eliminated T. Petrosino, by the same score, 5-4. Lindgren shut out Casper, 5-0, and R. Petrosino, 5-1. Asher was patiently waiting in the wings, anticipating her first final and possible tour title, while Lindgren was searching for second. In the finals, Asher remained vigilant, but Lindgren came on strong, taking the first set, 5-3. With a little extra wind in her sail, Lindgren picked up the pace, ending Asher’s impressive run for the title, 5-1.
 
The tour would like to welcome its 14 new WPBA members, and extend its deepest gratitude to all the Board Members and players who assisted in promoting and running the event. Gulf Coast is happy to announce that Veronica “Pistol” Perez is joining its Board of Directors. Ms. Perez has hosted a number of successful events at Skinny Bob’s Billiards in Round Rock, Texas, and with her assistance, the tour looks forward to increasing its presence in Austin, and surrounding areas.
 
Players, friends, and fans, the next Gulf Coast Tour 9-ball event will be held at Ariana’s located at 13802 Homestead Road, Houston, Texas, on Saturday, May 14, 2016. This is a bar table event, and the tables will be open. Free practice begins at 10am, and the players’ meeting begins at 11am. There will also be a Lone Star Billiards Tour 9-ball event beginning on Saturday, sign-up 11am-1pm. For more information about the Gulf Coast Tour, please visit www.GulfCoastWomensTour.com. 
 
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