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Stephanie Hefner Wins NAPT Division II Championship

Stephanie Hefner

A field of forty six of the top ladies in the country, representing seven different regional tours, made their way to Bullshooters in Phoenix, Arizona to compete in the North American Pool Tour’s Division II Championship on February 13th – 16th.
 
The event kicked off on Thursday with six round robin groups competing in seven rack matches. With the top four players from each group advancing based on total games won, players could not take any opponent lightly at any point in the match. 
 
After two days of play, the field was narrowed to just twenty four players. The top player from each group, as well as the top two runner-up finishers from round robin play, all earned first round byes, with the remaining sixteen “top four” finishers being forced to play first round matches. 
 
Home field advantage proved to be valuable coming out of the groups, with four of the eight byes earned by Arizona Woman’s Billiard Tour (AWBT) players. The pool gods proved fickle though, as three of those four players (Leandrea Gaff, Susan Williams and Jaye Succo) were all knocked to the one loss side after their first matches. Bernie Store was the only local player to win her first double elimination stage match. Store then went on to defeat the Northwest Women’s Pool Association (NWPA) tour’s Michelle Hughes to remain unbeaten going into Sunday. She was joined by the NWPA Tour’s Stephanie Hefner, Gigi Callejas (West Coast Women’s Tour) and Suzanne Smith (NWPA). 
 
On the one loss side, Hughes earned her place in Sunday play with a hill-hill win over Succo, and was joined by Williams, Marian Poole and a player who had clawed her way through the entire event, Bonnie Ogg from the West Coast Women’s Tour. 
 
Ogg’s play all weekend was noteworthy in that she escaped her group as the 4th player, and then lost her first match on Saturday to Suzanne Smith. Ogg then came within a rack of a “two and out” elimination, beating Khahn Ngo hill-hill on the one loss side Ogg’s last match on Saturday saw her trailing Ricki Casper 6-3, but she dug down and won four straight racks to earn her spot in Sunday play. 
 
Sunday play saw Hefner face off with Store. Store was the top ranked player in the event and Hefner knew she was going to be an obstacle that she had to overcome. She rose to the occasion and beat Store 7-5 to advance to the hot-seat match. “Going into this tournament, I really had ambition. I wanted to do well, and I knew she was going to be the toughest opponent. Not just because of her Fargo, but she’s the hometown girl. I’d never played her, so I didn’t know how we’d match up. It felt like an accomplishment getting through her, but I knew I couldn’t relax. “
 
Hefner then went on to hand Callejas a 7-3 loss to take the hot-seat, but she knew her job still wasn’t done as she headed to a practice table to stay sharp while waiting for an opponent. “I knew they would be fresh and I wanted to make sure that if I missed any balls, it wasn’t because I wasn’t in stroke.” she said. 
 
On the one loss side, Ogg continued her improbable run. A 7-3 win over group 4 winner Marian Poole was followed up by a 7-5 win over Store. Ogg’s next match was a true example of how brutal the pool gods can be. Ogg led Suzanne Smith 6-5, but left herself a tough 9-ball in the twelfth, that required the mechanical bridge. She missed that shot, allowing Smith to tie things at 6-6. Smith quickly took control of the final rack and ran to the 9 with textbook pattern play. She took her timeout and gathered herself to make the final 9-ball. That might have taken her out of her rhythm though, as she missed the 9-ball and left the match for Ogg to cleanup. Ogg had a much easier time with Callejas in the semi-final match, breaking a 3-3 tie to win 7-3.
 
The final match looked to be “advantage Hefner” on paper, as she eclipsed Ogg’s 508 Fargo rating by nearly 50 points, and Ogg would have to beat Hefner twice. Ogg had momentum though, and obviously wasn’t going to just give up. The turning point of the match appeared to happen with Hefner leading 4-2. Both players were caught up in a safety battle on the 8-ball, when Hefner took on a bank shot that would have made a one pocket player proud. She banked in the 8 and then banked the 9-ball into the same hole … left handed. “I almost played the same safe back, but I thought it was two way. Even if I rattled the eight, she might not get back for the nine so I just decided ‘screw it’ and went for it. I was a little less confident taking the shot left handed, but sometimes when I’m in it, the banks just happen and I don’t think about it.“ Ogg would fight back to get within one at 5-4, but it was Hefner who then won the last two racks for the 7-4 win. 
 
Hefner took the trophy, and $1400 in prize money, back to Oregon. Ogg settled for $1000 in prize money and the knowledge that her Fargo ratings is due for a major increase. 

Kirk defeats NWPA Tour Champ Suzanne Smith in final tour stop

Suzanne Smith, looking to punctuate her standing as the 2015 Northwest Women's Pool Association champion on the tour's final event of the season, made it all the way to the hot seat, before running into Kimberly Kirk in the finals. Kirk, playing in only her second event of the year, and looking for only her second win on the tour since 2002, won three matches on the loss side for the right to meet Smith, and then downed her in the finals. The $500-added event, streamed by Rail2Rail productions, drew 23 entrants to The Parlor in Bellevue, WA.
 
After giving up a total of only seven racks, over three matches (to Kim Toops, Kirsten Ferry, and Fran Johnson, Kirk was sent to the loss side in a double hill match, won by Patricia Tipton in a winners' side semifinal. Smith, in the meantime, defeated Liz Cole 7-3 in the other winners' side semifinal. Smith claimed the hot seat 7-4 over Tipton, and waited on the return of Kirk, or K2, as she was called throughout the Rail2Rail stream.
 
On the loss side, Kirk picked up Michelle Hughes, who'd won four matches on the loss side to reach her, including a double hill win over Jessica Aarhaus, and 6-3 victory over Mary Coffman. Cole drew Carissa Biggs, who'd defeated Cassie Francois 6-3 and survived a double hill fight versus Fran Johnson. Kirk downEd Hughes 6-3, as Cole was busy shutting out Biggs. 
 
The closest that Kirk had come to victory on the tour since 2002 was a runner-up finish to Cole in 2011. She got her three-year-delayed vengeance against Cole in the quarterfinals, defeating her 6-3 and moving on for a re-match versus Tipton. She took care of that, too, defeating Tipton 6-3, for a shot at Smith.
 
Kirk stayed steady in the finals, while Smith showed some vulnerability. Kirk took full advantage, getting out in front, eventually by five, to win 9-4 and claim the event title.

Liz Cole wins NWPA Season Finale

On November 19-20th The Parlor in Bellevue, WA hosted the NWPA’s 7th and final tour stop of the 2011 Season.  The tournament was ran on 10 9 foot Brunswicks and Rail2Rail Productions provided live streaming throughout the event.  As always, The Parlor was a gracious host and even provided comedy club tickets to several of the entrants after the NWPA banquet hosted as a buffet style dinner at The Ultra Lounge.  Some of the The Parlor’s upcoming events include The Vixen Gauntlet and Country Line Dancing on Wednesdays, Thursday/Saturday football specials with 16 HD TVs and all kinds of door prizes and giveaways, DL Hughley on December 8-10, and Comic Search open auditions on December 15-17.

We would like to give special thanks to our title sponsor MUELLER for their continued support of the NWPA, please show your support to the NWPA by supporting Mueller (www.mueller.com). We would also like to extend a warm welcome to two new players: Clodagh Lancaster from Redmond, WA and Sara Mullenniex from Bellingham, WA.  

2011 NWPA Awards were given at the banquet Saturday night and included:

Tour Champion- Liz Cole

Player of the Year- Kimberly Kirk

Most Improved- Stacy Eilts

Also at the banquet, conclusion of our annual raffle took place.  Ed & Shelby Locati, Phyllis Fernandez, and Liz Cole all won cues and cases donated by Mueller, Brian Johnson and Alisha Rogers both won NWPA merchandise, and Shawn Graves won the coveted Passion Party basket, donated by Liz Cole’s sister.

Fresh off her first top 16 performance at the WPBA’s Tour Championship event Liz Cole was the favorite to win.  With that performance, Liz earned her 2012 exemption on the WPBA, so whoever earned second in the NWPA’s overall standings would prove to be the NWPA representative, along with Liz, on the WPBA for 2012.  In contention were Kimberly Kirk and Deby Welfringer, both players would have to have their best tournament of the year to have an opportunity.  Kimberly would need to win the event, while Deby would need to finish 3rd.  

Twenty ladies came to play on Saturday morning, and unfortunately due to snow, a few of the tours’ top players were not in attendance.  Matches started at 10 am, and the field was whittled down to 8 players who returned on Sunday.  On the A side, Liz Cole squared off against Michelle Hughes (her first Sunday appearance), while Shelby Locati battled against recently crowned 2011 US Amateur Champion, Suzanne Smith.  Liz and Suzanne both won their matches 7-4 and 7-2.  Liz then defeated Suzanne 7-4 to secure her 6th final appearance of the season.  On the B side, Kimberly Kirk played Jessica Orth and Deby Welfringer played Clodagh Lancaster.  Both Kimberly and Deby defeated their opponents 7-5, and momentum from their morning wins propelled them through their second rounds where Kimberly defeated Shelby 7-6 and Deby defeated Michelle 7-3.  

The next match would prove to be a true test, for if Deby were to advance she would be guaranteed a 3rd place finish and take over 2nd place in the standings.  Kimberly had different plans, as she was also in contention for that 2nd place spot, and ended up defeating Deby 7-2.  Kimberly continued her superb play and defeated Suzanne 7-4 to secure her spot in the final against Liz.

Path to the Final
Liz Cole: Andy R (6), Shari R (5), Kathy S (2), Michelle H (5), Suzanne S (4)

Kimberly Kirk: Bye, Sara M (0), loss to Michelle H (5), Andy R (3), Jessica O (5), Shelby L (6), Suzanne S (4)

Kimberly won the lag.  Straight out of the gate, Kimberly continued stroking the ball well to take a 3-0 lead, forcing Liz to take her break early to regain her composure.  After Liz’s break, a couple untimely errors by Kimberly allowed Liz to tie up the match at 3 games each.  Both ladies were shooting great and the match was alos tied at 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6, however in game 14, with an opportunity to tie the match again at 7, a hung 8 ball by Kimberly allowed Liz to take a two game lead 8-6.  Kimberly then scratched on the break for the first time of the set in the next rack and Liz methodically ran out the rack to end Kimberly’s hopes of securing 2nd place in the standings.  Congratulations Ladies, Great Tournament for you both.  Congratulations to Jana Montour as well, who with her 2nd place position in the NWPA’s overall standings has earned her tour card.  Thanks to all who came out to support the NWPA.  It was a great season and we will see everyone (and hopefully more of us) in 2012.

Five ladies returned on Sunday for a $100 Added Second Chance Tournament.  A round robin format was used, so each lady played the others five games.  Alisha Rogers won the most games to claim top prize, while only 1 game separated 2nd and 3rd places. Sara and Talya ended up tied for fourth position, but since Sara had defeated Talya in their match, Sara received 4th place prize.

Second Chance Payouts
Place $ Player
1st 45 Alisha Rogers
2nd 35 Tamre Rogers
3rd 30 Andy Ruth
4th 25 Sara Mulleniex