Boynton Beach, Fla. – Eleven junior players showed up at Slate Billiards in Boynton Beach, Florida, last month for the first Juniors 8-Ball Tournament, sponsored by the Flamingo Billiards Tour. Kids came from as far away as Bradenton and Miramar, many of them playing in their very first event.  

 

The format was a race to three, double elimination, handicapped. The final race matched up local 14 year-old Andre Dunbar and 16 year-old Collin Dowdy.  Dowdy, a talented experienced player from the west coast won the tournament handily. Josh Wolff finished third. The top three players won trophies. 

 

Although some players clearly displayed advanced skills while others were just learning how to play, everyone had a good time and made new friends. Flamingo Billiards Tour would like to thank Slate Billiards room owners Mike Bradford and Bill Giffen, Boynton Billiards, and instructor Ed Kiess.

 

Some of the matches can be viewed at Ustream.com (http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/45257303).  More pictures can be viewed at www.pfs.me.

 

Forty-six players filled three division boards Saturday night to compete in the 2013 Flamingo Billiards Tour Open Winter 8-Ball Jam at Slate Billiards in Boynton Beach, Florida. Sponsored in part by Ozone Billiards and Budweiser Black Crown, this $500-added event drew lots of new faces.  At the end of the night, Brad Hughes sank the last eight ball for the win.

 

Hughes had an uphill fight, after sending Jaran Hilton west then losing to local favorite Sam Kantar. Not to be stopped, Hughes came back on the one-loss side sending home Billy Burke, Joe Beyer and Johnny Aguilar to make it to the final single elimination board. 

 

Also making the final board: Alicia DeAbreu, Chris Gordon, Tom McCloud, Sam Kantar, Jordan Tavano, Ethan Epstein and Jesus Borjas. The final match pittEd Hughes against McCloud with Hughes finishing the night on top.

 

This modified double elimination format, race to four, with three divisions allows players in all levels to make the money.  Players initially compete within their own skill level.  The highest finishers in each level redraw into a final single elimination board of eight.  At that point, the matches are handicapped.

 

Thanks to everyone who came out to play, to room owners Mike Bradford and Bill Giffen, (www.slatebilliards.com), Ozone Billiards and Budweiser Black Crown.

 

 

Boynton Beach, Fla. – Not to be deterred after getting knocked out early at last month’s event, Jeannie Seaver came to win the Flamingo Billiards Tour Stop #5 on Saturday. Thirty-two players filled the board at Slate Billiards in Boynton Beach, Florida, including Amy Poulter, who has been absent from the tour for more than a year.  But Poulter, room owner of Amy’s Billiards in Stuart, Florida, was back in great form, finishing second only to Seaver. 

 

Her path to the finals was challenging after sending Kathleen Lawless west in a double hill match, then losing a close match to newcomer Kelly Errair. Poulter got past Crystal McCormick in another double hill match, the ended the day for Jennifer Page, and then matched up again with Kelly Errair in the final board, winning 7-1.  Seaver swept past Tour Director Mimi McAndrews, sister Vanessa Seaver, took the edge in a double hill match with Cassidy Mulligan and then won over Sue Roberts to get to the finals.

 

The format is a modified-double elimination playing down to four on each side. The four players on the one-loss side draw into the winners bracket and it is single elimination from that point.  Also making it to the final board of eight was Jessica Barnes, Jennifer Page, Sue Roberts, Cassidy Mulligan, Vanessa Seaver and new player Kelly Errair.

 

Boynton Beach, FL  (June 29, 2013) – The best of the best came together Saturday to find out just who is the Top Gun in the Palm Beach County this year. Every player was capable of winning this highly contested tournament on any given day, and on Saturday Scott Nodell shot his way to the top. 

 

The Top Guns tournament invites the top 16 players with the highest average for the past three sessions. The format is a race to three, modified double elimination. This format requires every player to be on top of their game to get to the final single elimination board of four. One missed shot or unforced error can cost these high-level players their match, and that’s exactly what happened to several Top Guns who weren’t on their game that day.

 

Nodell met up in the title match against rising star Dean Allen, who Nodell sent to the one-loss side earlier in the day. This was Allen’s first year that he qualified for Top Guns and by the end of the night it was clear that he belonged in this event, having shot past the likes of Sam Kantar and last year’s Top Gun Champion Chris Filippelli, both favorites to win the event.  Nodell, a well-known player in this area, had a long path to the finals as well, after being sent west by Greg Deaton, then knocking out Mike Mignacca, Marty Gayler and Al Cashwell along the way. 

 

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/.

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.

Alicia DeAbreu won the Flamingo Billiards Tour End of Year Mini-Tour event, her first win on the 8-Ball/9-Ball format on Saturday at Slate Billiards in Boynton Beach, Florida.  DeAbrue made it to the finals from the one loss side after being sent west by Jennifer Page.  DeAbrue then matched up against Sue Roberts, who played strong all day. But DeAbrue ultimately prevailed, only to meet Page again in the final match.  DeAbrue took advantage of missed shots by the more veteran players Roberts and Page. Page was late getting in stroke for the final match, but caught a second wind to win five racks in a row. However, Page gave DeAbreu one too many chances back at the table.  DeAbrue finally won her first event on the Mini-Tour!

Sue Roberts won the Mini-Tour Champion title as the highest points finisher for the year. Many thanks to Mike Bradford and Joe Sistarelli, owners of Slate Billiards, and world professional Nick Varner, for their support of the Flamingo Billiards Tour.

Boynton Beach, Fla. (Dec. 3, 2011) – Amazing grace, great talent and good cheer made for an exciting day of competition at the Flamingo Billiards Tour Holiday Open 9-Ball Event on Saturday at Slate Billiards in Boynton Beach, FL.  At the end of it all, Anthony Meglino edged out David Broxson for his second Flamingo Billiards Tour Open 9-Ball victory.

Competition abounded with notable pro players “TK” Tommy Kennedy and “Iron” Mike Davis in town.  Filling Slate’s holiday décor of familiar South Florida competitors was Meglino, Broxson, John Foster, Randy Epperson, and Javier Chirino.  Topping it all off was the revered, feared, and respected Toby Sweet.   

In one of the day’s great matchups, Meglino went toe-to-toe with Sweet to stay on the winner’ side.  Like a master testing his young grasshopper, Sweet, down 5-1, gave Meglino a few lessons in the art of billiards.  Sweet came back to win the next four racks and just when it looked like Sweet would tie the match, Sweet got a bad roll as the cue ball froze up on the five, leaving Sweet with no shot and a difficult safe that cost Sweet the match.  Meglino continued on, outshooting Randy Epperson only to be stopped by David Broxson, who shot strong through to the hot seat.  

Broxson came up through the winner’s side finishing off another exciting and nail-biting hill-hill match with Tommy Kennedy.  After that, Broxson sent veteran player John Foster west.  Foster later matched up with Meglino in yet another exciting and hotly contested double hill match attempting to make it back to the finals. However, Foster would have to settle for third.

In the final race to 11, Meglino got off to a late start, trailing Broxson 4-0.  Meglino finally got on the score board and Broxson responded equally, giving himself a 5-1 lead.  In game seven, Meglino was faced with a jump shot, and in true form Meglino not only jumped but amazingly jump-banked the one and ran the rest of the rack, score 6-2.  What may have been the turning point in the match, before long Meglino was up 8-7.  Broxson then missed a key five-ball shot in rack 16, giving Meglino a 9-7 lead.  Broxson was left with a kick shot in the next rack which he barely missed, leaving Meglino out and on the hill, 10-7.  However, Broxson wasn’t going to be stopped easily, as he broke and ran the next rack, score 10-8.  Meglino broke next but came up dry.  However, he got back to the table and proceeded to run out, but uncharacteristically overcut the six leaving Broxson a tough long rail shot which he made along with the remaining rack, score 10-9.  It was Broxson’s turn to break and it looked like he would tie the match, as an easy 4-9 combo was begging for attention.  But he didn’t get shape on the three, and left himself with a difficult rail shot because the cue ball stopped just in front of the eight-ball, forcing Broxson to shoot over the eight.  Broxson shot the three and got shape for the combo, but the three bobbled in the corner and refused to drop.  Meglino pocketed the three and proceeded to make the 4-9 combo match-winning shot.

Other notable matches included Mike Davis’ loss to John Foster.  Davis was favored to win the event.  Another upset included Tommy Kennedy’s double-hill loss to Broxson and then being knocked out of the event by Davis.

Some of the event matches can be viewed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/flamingo-open-9-ball and http://www.ustream.tv/channel/billiardcommunity-com.

The FBT, a WPBA-Recognized Regional Tour, is the stepping stone to the WPBA for women in Florida who want to qualify for Women’s Professional Billiard Association events.  The 2011 Winter Open was the second 9-Ball event open to both male and female players.

Many thanks to everyone who came out to play, to room owners Mike Bradford and Joe Sistarelli, (www.slatebilliards.com), for being great hosts and to Boynton Billiards (www.boyntonbilliards.com) for their support of the Flamingo Billiards Tour.

Boynton Beach, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2011) – If there was any doubt that Florida’s top women 9-Ball players were in the same pool room on Saturday, that doubt was quickly eliminated by the never-ending display of banks, caroms and combos executed with perfection throughout the entire day. At the end of it all, however, it was Jessica Barnes who played strong enough to win the Flamingo Billiards Tour $1,000-added End of Year event.  This was Barne’s first win on the FBT.

Hot off a recent win on the BAAT tour, Barnes came to the FBT with the same thought in mind. However, Jessica’s first match was a tough double-hill challenge with Kelly Coyle that almost sent Jessica west.  Coyle missed the match-winning nine-ball and left Jessica out.  Barnes then sent Shanelle Loraine west, only to be stopped by Chris Fields 7-2.  Jessica quickly made it to the redraw by sending Christie Cloke home, 7-2.  Fields made it to the redraw on the winner’s side after sending both Barnes and Janis Sessions to the one-loss side.

Jeannie Seaver, in her attempt to win three FBT events in a row, had a rough start to the day losing 7-5 to Jennifer Page.  Not to be stopped, Seaver made it back to the redraw with wins over Loraine, Sessions and Sue Roberts.  Page also made it to the redraw with wins over Vanessa Seaver and a tough win over Roberts 7-5.

In the semi-finals Barnes drew Chris Fields. Jeannie Seaver would play Jennifer Page again. Down 4-0, Seaver looked like she was losing her mojo. Not to be shut out, Seaver’s stroke caught a second wind and came back forcing Page into a double-hill match.  With the 9-Ball sitting in front of the side pocket, the cue ball on the other side and several balls blocking any kind of carom or combo shot, Page took a chance hitting the two into the rail and kicking back towards the nine, but missed, leaving Seaver with an almost identical shot in the opposition direction. Seaver shot the two into the short rail to send it up to the nine, making the two instead of the nine. Seaver continued to run the table and was almost at the finish line.  But left with a tough shot on the seven to get on the eight, Seaver missed the shot and Page ran out to take the match.

The biggest surprise match of the night was the semi-final matchup between Fields and Barnes.  Fields seemed to have the match locked up with Barnes down 6-1.  But a few bad rolls for Fields, a few good rolls for Barnes, not to mention that Barnes has been playing strong and came to play with a “never say die” attitude on Saturday – Barnes refused to give up, came back to force a double-hill game and ultimately won match.  

The final match between Page and Barnes was like a see-saw.  Barnes was quick up two games, making an incredible long rail cut shot on the 9-ball with almost no angle on the nine. In game three Barnes undercut an 8-ball allowing Page to get on the board. Barnes broke next but came up dry, leaving Page an easy shot on the one, followed by a combo shot on the 2-9, tying the match 2-2. Barnes took the next game, and then Page combed again, score 3-3.  Ball back in the Barnes’ court made the match 4-3, then in game eight, Page played safe, and with the two-nine tied up on the opposite rail Barnes responded with an incredible ESPN kick shot of the day hitting the two and sending the nine into the pocket, 5-3.  Page won the next game, and then ran out to the 8-ball, made the eight and ended up with the cue ball on the rail for a long cut shot with the 9-ball on the opposite rail. A tough shot for even the most seasoned pro, Page missed and left Barnes out.  Score 6-4. The next game Barnes missed and left Page out, score 6-5.  In the next game, Barnes broke and made two balls. Missing a straight in long rail shot, Page was back at the table with a chance to tie the match. But left with a tough shot to make or even play safe, Page missed and Barnes ran the rest of the table for the game and the match.

Jeannie Seaver’s 3rd place finish guaranteed her spot as the FBT highest points finisher and the 2011 Flamingo Billiards Tour Champion.  Seaver received Nick Varner‘s new Air Jump Cue.  A third place finish was also good enough for Chris Fields to secure the 2012 WPBA Exemption.

Susan Martin was recognized as the Most Improved Player Award.  Janis Sessions was recognized with the Most Valuable Player Award, as the value that she brings to the FBT goes above and beyond in helping to promote and support the tour. Janis has brought several new players; she raises money for the FBT breast cancer fundraiser, and goes out of her way to publicize the FBT, not only by word of mouth but by word of car! 

In a side-by-side event, Margie Soash (pictured below on the left) won the 8-Ball/9-Ball tournament. Juliette Watier (pictured below right) finished second, and Christina Terlizzi finished third.

Many thanks to room owners Mike Bradford and Joe Sistarelli, (www.billiardcommunity.com), (www.slatebilliards.com) for being great hosts and supporters of the Flamingo Billiards Tour. Thanks also to the legendary Nick Varner and to Boynton Billiards, for supporting the Flamingo Billiards Tour.  Our thanks also goes out to Ultimate Billiards in Ft. Pierce, Florida, and to Amy’s Billiards in Stuart, Florida, for their continued support.  And of course thanks to all of the women who came out to compete and support the tour.  See you next year!

Some of the matches from the 2011 End of Year Event can be viewed at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/18622494.