Felipe Yniguez, Ruben Bautista, Jesus Blanco and Manny Chau
Houston’s own Manny Chau annihilated a field of 46 competitors at Fat Racks Sports Bar and Billiards in San Antonio, Texas, to claim the second annual, Poison Lone Star Tour, San Antonio 9-Ball Open. In the finals, a formidable Ruben Bautista dealt Chau his first blow, 6-0, but Chau answered back in the second set, defeating Bautista 6-0, to capture his second, Poison Lone Star Tour victory of 2018.
On March 10th-11th, 2018, the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour held its third stop of the season at Fat Racks Sports Bar and Billiards in San Antonio, Texas. The tournament amassed 46 players from cities throughout Texas, including New Braunfels, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, and the “Valley”, with a payout pushing $7,000. The Tour would like to thank Fat Racks, Daniel and Alice Tarpley, and their entire staff, title sponsor Poison by Predator Cues PoisonBilliards.com, and sponsors Cyclop Pool Balls Facebook@CyclopPoolBalls, Ozone Billiards OzoneBilliards.com, APA of North Harris County Facebook@APANorthHarrisCounty, OutsvilleBilliards.com, and www.VaporKnightsUSA.com for facilitating another successful event for the Poison Lone Star Tour players.
In this open 9-ball event, Chau defeated Shawn Owen, 6-1, Jeff Smith, 6-2, and Chester Hamoy, 6-1, while Corpus Christi’s Dale Briones denied Joe Heinaman, 6-0, Joshua Lammert, 6-5, Santiago Carrillo, 6-2, and Pablo Munoz, 6-5. Ruben Bautista ousted Wayne Senn, 6-2, Mark Galicia, 6-5, and Ismael Ramirez, 6-0, while Felipe Yniguez took down Jack Collins, 6-3, Rudy Sanchez, 6-4, and Jesus Blanco, 6-4. The winners’ side final four took shape, while action heated up on the west side. Ramirez ended Canchola, while Blanco made quick work of Heinaman, 6-3. Houston’s Joey Torres eliminated Hamoy, 6-2, and Mark Galicia dusted off Munoz, 6-2. Back on the east side, Chau buried Briones and Yniguez upset Bautista, by the same score, 6-4. Chau wasted little time with Yniguez, sending him to the one loss side, 6-2. Meanwhile, west side players fought to stay in the game. Blanco mounted a comeback, with wins over Ramirez, 6-1, and Briones, 6-4, while Mark Galicia overcame Torres, 6-4, but fell to Bautista, 6-2. Clearly, Bautista was on a mission, eliminating Blanco, 6-2, then Yniguez, 6-3, earning himself a shot at Chau, and the title. In the first set, Bautista raced around the table, and balls flew in the pockets from every angle. Before he knew it, Chau had lost the first set, 6-0. In the second set, it was as if the players had traded places. Now, it was Chau who raced around the table, breaking and running out, from all possible positions. In the end, Chau firmly answered back, 6-0, to win his second, Tour victory of 2018.
On Sunday, the Tour held a “second chance” tournament. Joe Heinaman of Beeville, Texas, took home first place, while Sophia Lopez of San Antonio, Texas, finished runner-up. Congratulations to both Joe and Sophia on a well-fought event! Mark Canchola and Fernando Lopez were two more players that didn’t walk away empty handed. Mark won a Poison VX STK playing cue, and Fernando won a Poison VX BRK break cue in the Poison Cue Raffles.
The next event will be held April 21st-22nd, 2018, at Bogies Billiards, 3040 FM 1960 E., in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit www.LoneStarBilliardsTour.com.
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.
Eric Aicinena proved he is the player to beat in San Antonio, going undefeated in a field of 57 competitors, overcoming Manny Chau in the finals, 6-5, to capture the inaugural Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour, San Antonio Open 9-Ball Event.
Recently named the #1 Sports Bar by the San Antonio Express News, Fat Racks Sports Bar and Billiards hosted a stellar event this past weekend, July 8th-9th, featuring some of the best players Texas has to offer. Champions in attendance included Manny Chau, Ruben Bautista, David Guttierrez, and local favorites, Rudy Sanchez, Sam Manaole, and Frank Ferrer, Jr. Fat Racks added a generous $1,000 to the purse, and with 100% payback in the player auctions, the tournament paid an impressive $10,870. Thanks to the support of Fat Racks’ owners, Daniel and Alice Tarpley, title sponsor Poison by Predator Cues, PoisonBilliards.com, and sponsors Cyclop Pool Balls facebook@CyclopPoolBalls, Ozone Billiards OzoneBilliards.com, APA of North Harris County, facebook@APANorthHarrisCounty, OutsvilleBilliards.com, and Jimmy Jenkins Realty , the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour posted one of its largest payouts to date.
This special event featured one, open 9-ball division, as opposed to the two-division format (amateur and open), typical of Poison Lone Star Tour Events. On Saturday, players raced to six on both sides, and on Sunday, the one loss side was a race to five. San Antonio’s Eric Aicinena carved out wins over Cassidy Adams, 6-0, Fernando Colunga, 6-5, Joey Barajas, 6-1, and Candy Ramos, 6-1, while David Gutierrez “David G”, bested Jimmy Jenkins, 6-2, Daniel Tarpley, 6-0, Mickey Woinicki, 6-5, and Santiago Garza, 6-1. Sam Manaole logged wins over Clem Saenz, Justin Espinosa, 6-2, and Nuevo Laredo’s Felipe Yniguez, 6-3, while Manny Chau ousted Rudy Sanchez, 6-4, Albert Luna, 6-3, and Lynn Mascheck, 6-2. As the final four winners’ side took shape, one loss side matches were underway. Following a second round loss to Aicinena, 6-5, Colunga took out Chris Ramoz, 6-3, Neil Khan, 6-5, Martin Ramos, 5-2, Luna, 5-4, and Candy Ramos, 5-2. Following a third round loss to Garza, 6-4, Frank Ferrer, Jr. took out David Gonzalez, 6-5, Mark Canchola, 6-1, Joe Heinaman, 5-2, and Ariel Estrada, 5-1, before falling to Garza, once again, 5-2. After suffering a second round loss to Chau, 6-4, Sanchez made an incredible comeback, securing eight wins, eliminating Ruben Bautista, 6-5, Jenkins, 6-0, Gail Eaton, 5-2, Sophia Lopez, 5-0, and Mascheck, 5-2. Newcomer Benje Piamonte eliminated Mingo Ybarra, 6-2, Espinosa, 6-2, and David Leal, 5-3, before falling to Mickey Woinicki, 5-4. In turn, Woinicki met his fate with Yniguez, 5-4. As the final four on the one loss side panned out, winners’ side action witnessed Chau defeat Manaole, 6-4, and Aicinena slide by Gutierrez, 6-5. Still alive on the one loss side, Colunga defeated Garza, 5-3, while Sanchez claimed his sixth win over Yniguez, 5-3. Manaole ended Colunga’s run, 5-2, while Sanchez overwhelmed Gutierrez, 5-2. Meanwhile, Chau and Aicinena teed off for the hot seat. Overwhelming play by Aicinena sent Chau to unfamiliar territory, 6-3. On the west side, Sanchez overcame Manaole, 5-2, but was stopped short by Chau, 5-1. Once again, Chau would face off with Aicinena, going head to head in the true, double elimination final. The crowd was silenced as Aicinena took the lead, 4-1, and Chau came back to tie it up, 4-4. Aicinena won the next game and Chau answered back. It was hill-hill and the tension was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Following a series of forced and unforced errors in the second half of the rack, Aicinena caught a break, winning the final game, and his first win on the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour.
There were six ladies competing in this event, including Gail Eaton, Sophia Lopez, Kawania Watson, Megan Hardin, Angela Garza, and Clem Saenz. Congratulations to Sophia Lopez who finished 13th-16th, taking home the “Last Lady Standing” award in this open 9-ball event.
On Thursday, July 6th, 2017, the Texas billiard community suffered a great loss with the sudden passing of a dear friend and fellow pool player, Helen Hayes (43 years-old). Upon hearing the news, Fat Racks organized a balloon release on Saturday, raffled off product, and accepted donations, all on behalf of the Hayes family. Over 100 balloons were released in Helen’s honor, and $1,100 was raised to assist with medical and funeral expenses. The tour would like to express its deepest condolences to Helen’s family and friends, and thank each and every person who came out on Saturday to support this impromptu remembrance and benefit.
There were a number of players at this event competing on tour for the first time. The tour would like to thank all those players and invite them back at every opportunity. The tour would also like to thank Jimmy Jenkins for his assistance in running the event, and Jerry Olivier for performing cue repair throughout the weekend. Congratulations to one of our newest players, Eddie Martinez, on winning the Poison Armour Cue Case, and Charlie Elders and Chase Nevels on winning Poison VX Break Jump Cues, in the Poison Raffles.
The tour would like to acknowledge and thank its “special supporters” of this event, Veteran Albert Cortez, “Nino”, Tito Fernandez, Pat Castro “Chicago”, and Zach Ballas.
Serving pool players, pool rooms, and sponsors since 2009, the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour celebrates its 10th Anniversary in 2018 as the longest-running billiards tour in the south. A special 10th Anniversary Event will be held for players who compete in at least two events between now, and January 1st, 2018. The tour strongly encourages all players to meet the eligibility requirements, in order to gain entrance into this one-of-a-kind tournament. The next tour stop will be held on August 26th-27th, 2017, at Bogies Billiards West in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit www.LoneStarBilliardsTour.com.
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.
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.
Fresh off a third place finish in the WPBA's Regional Tour Championships (RTC) in January, at which she was defeated in the semifinals by the eventual champion, Jeannie Seaver, Ricki Casper moved on to Texas and went undefeated through a field of 37, on-hand to compete in the inaugural Ladies event of the Texas Open 10-Ball Championships. The $500-added event, held on the weekend of February 16-19, was hosted by Skinny Bob's Billiards in Round Rock, TX.
Casper faced Jennifer Kraber twice in this inaugural event; once in the hot seat and again, in the finals. Casper advanced through the field to a winners' side semifinal against Julia Rapp, as Kraber faced Gail Eaton (runner-up to Seaver in that RTC) in the other winners' side semifinal. Kraber downed Eaton 7-5, and in the hot seat match, faced Casper, who'd sent Rapp to the loss side 7-4. Casper took her first of two against Kraber 7-5 and sat in the hot seat, awaiting her return.
Eaton downed Sanders 7-3, and in the quarterfinals, faced Lopez, who'd made Rapp's presence on the loss side a single-match trip with a 7-5 win. Eaton ended Lopez' loss-side journey 7-4, and then fell to Kraber 7-5 in the semifinals. Eaton would add $500 to her $300 for third place in the Ladies event by being the top female finisher in the Open event. Casper took the opening set of what would have been a true double elimination final 7-4 over Kraber to claim the inaugural event title.
