The world’s largest pool league will have a new leader at its helm come Jan. 1, 2020. Greg Fletcher, APA’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Technology, was recently named Incoming President by APA Founder Terry Bell. Fletcher has been with APA for more than 25 years.
“Our organization is changing rapidly, particularly in the area of technology. I believe this next decade will be one of technological development and growth for APA, and I believe Greg to be the right person to lead the organization,” said Bell.
Fletcher brings to his new role a wealth of experience in the areas of marketing and technology. Prior to joining APA, Fletcher worked with other major organizations including advertising agencies DDB Needham, The Richards Group, Moroch & Associates and Brown & Associates. During his time with these agencies, he worked with brands that included McDonalds, Pepsi, Rolex and Chick-Fil-A.
“I’m very excited to lead this great organization into its fifth decade. APA has a long track record of success, and I look forward to working with our members, League Operators and staff to build upon that success. I intend to continue strengthening APA’s brand status and position within the billiard and entertainment industries while simultaneously supercharging the technology that accentuates APA’s timeless value proposition of bringing people together to experience the fun and excitement of playing pool,” said Fletcher.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, with leagues throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. Nearly 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9-Ball League play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces four major tournaments each year—the APA World Pool Championships, the APA Poolplayer Championships, the APA Junior Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out more than $2 Million in cash and prizes annually!
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues, Pool Dawg and Valley-Dynamo.
LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO (May 23, 2011) — The American Poolplayers Association (APA) recognized five of their top franchisees with League Operator of the Year awards during the APA Annual Convention in late April in Las Vegas. The five were selected from a group of more than 270 League Operators throughout North America, with one League Operator selected from each market size.
In the Level 1 Market, Ben and Sharon Driver of the South Dallas County Texas APA, were honored for their performance during the past year. Les and Francee Moore of Fort Worth, Texas, were the top League Operators in the Level 2 Market. In the Level 3 Market, Preston and Lisa Granger of Lafayette, La., were selected. Marc Lancaster, Kim Ramsey and Jim Badger of Memphis, Tenn., were selected in the Level 4 Market. Bruce and Ann Barthelette from Hartford, Conn., were awarded League Operators of the Year in the Level 5 Market.
The APA awards a number of League Operators each year for their accomplishments in running their League area. Those selected as League Operator of the Year receive a check for $1,000 and a trophy.
In addition to recognizing the League Operators of the Year, the APA also awarded the Rookie and Journeyman of the Year awards. Daniel Carter of West Central Indiana, received the Rookie of the Year Award, while Marvin Rethman of Las Vegas, was selected for the Journeymen of the Year Award. The Journeyman of the Year is presented to the top League Operator who is no longer a rookie, but not yet eligible to receive the League Operator of the Year award.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States, and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. Nearly 270,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9‑Ball League play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces three major tournaments each year—the APA National Team Championships, the APA National Singles Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out nearly $1.5 Million in cash and prizes annually!
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues and PoolDawg.
For more information on the American Poolplayers Association, visit www.poolplayers.com.
LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO (March 19, 2019) — After serving as the leader of the World’s Largest Pool League for nearly a quarter-century, Renee Lyle has retired from her post as APA President. Lyle joined the organization in 1987. After serving in various roles at APA over her first eight years, she was named President in 1995 by Founders Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart.
Lyle will remain on indefinitely as a consultant for APA, but will no longer oversee day-to-day operations of the organization.
“I’ve dedicated the better part of my life to helping build APA into what it is today, and now I’m ready to step away and enjoy my retirement. I’m happy, healthy and I look forward to having the time to focus on other passions that I’ve simply never been able to pursue,” said Lyle.
As Lyle transitions into retirement, APA Founder and new President Terry Bell will oversee APA, along with longtime Vice-President Pam Aston, who has served as VP throughout the past 24 years alongside Lyle.
“We’re happy to see Renee move into the next phase of her life, and we’re grateful for the contributions she’s made. To her credit, Renee has assembled a very capable team that will continue to build upon the success we’ve achieved,” said new President Terry Bell. “With an average tenure of 15-plus years of leadership in key areas of the company like our Tournament Productions, Franchise Operations and Marketing departments, we are well positioned to make this a seamless transition,” he added.
While it may be “business as usual” moving forward as an organization, it will no doubt be an emotional goodbye to the woman who has guided the organization for so many years.
This year’s annual APA League Operator Convention in late April in Las Vegas, originally slated to celebrate APA’s 40th Anniversary, will now double as a celebration of Lyle’s tenure as President and as her farewell.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, with leagues throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. Nearly 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9-Ball League play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces four major tournaments each year—the APA World Pool Championships, the APA Poolplayer Championships, the APA Junior Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out more than $2 Million in cash and prizes annually!
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues, Pool Dawg and Valley-Dynamo.
The U.S. Amateur Championship returned to the tropical climate of the Tampa Bay area in early November. For five straight days, the nation’s top players battled it out at Stroker’s – Palm Harbor, Fla., for their place in U.S. Amateur Championship history. More than 2,400 players attempted to qualify for this year’s event, with 32 women and 128 men advancing to the championship round. The tournament field included a strong mix of U.S Amateur Championship veterans and a talented pool of newcomers vying for amateur pool’s most prestigious title.
In the finals of the Women’s Division, Tammie Jones of Muncie, Ind., defeated Asia Cycak of Raleigh, N.C., 9-4 in a rematch of the 2012 finals.
The encore finale opened in the 8-Ball set at Jones choosing after Cycak won the lag and took the break. Cycak took an early lead winning the first game, but Jones marched right back taking the next three to open a 3-1 advantage. Cycak narrowed the gap by taking the fifth game, but again, Jones bounced back with a win of her own and a 4-2 lead heading into the 9-Ball set.
Things unraveled quickly in the 9-Ball set for Cycak, as Jones quickly reeled off four straight wins and an insurmountable 8-2 lead. Cycak staved off elimination the next two games, thanks in part to Jones rattling the 9-ball in and out of the pocket while on-the-hill, but could only postpone the inevitable for so long.
Jones earned her second U.S. Amateur Championship title in three years, while Cycak matched her 2012 Runner-Up performance. The victory earns Jones the coveted U.S. Amateur Championship trophy, and travel, lodging and entry into a 2015 pro event.
In the finals of the Men’s Division, Kenneth Brisbon of Oxford, Mich., defeated Jeff Abernathy of Hickory, N.C., 11-10 in the final. With the victory, Brisbon avenged his only loss of the tournament, suffered earlier in the day at the hands of Abernathy.
Early on, the match looked anything like the hill-hill nail biter it turned out to be. Brisbon looked like he’d make quick work of Abernathy opening up a 5-0 lead. But Abernathy capitalized on a miscue on the 8-ball by Brisbon in the sixth game, and took the final three games of the 8-Ball set.
Before anyone could update their mental scorecards, Abernathy had pulled within a game with an opening win in the 9-Ball set. Brisbon took the next two games to push his lead to 7-4. Abernathy was tenacious though, winning four of the next five games and tying the match at 8-8. Brisbon took the ninth game of the 9-Ball set to regain the lead, but Abernathy battled back again, winning the next two games and taking his first lead of the match.
As a stunned crowd looked on, and needing only one more game for a victory, it appeared Abernathy would complete the comeback. But it was Brisbon who would mount a comeback of his own, tying the match at hill-hill.
In the 21st and final game overall, it was Brisbon coming up clutch with an impressive break-and-run to secure his place in U.S. Amateur Championship history.
After the match, Brisbon was presented with the first-ever Larry Hubbart Trophy by APA Founder Terry Bell and Hubbart’s widow Nancy Hubbart.
Brisbon moves on to compete in the 2015 U.S. Open, while Abernathy settled for Runner-up, his highest finish in U.S. Amateur Championship competition.
Taylor Anderson of Bonner Springs, Kan., took 3rd Place, while defending champion Brian Parks of Bakersfield, Calif., finished 4th. Tom Acciavatti of Latham, N.Y., and Clint Clark of Hickory, N.C., tied for 5th Place.
The 2014 U.S. Amateur Championship was conducted by the APA, and is the only tournament produced by the APA open to both members and non-members. Preliminary qualifying rounds were held throughout the country in mid-September.
As Champions, both Jones and Brisbon will return next year to defend their coveted titles.
The U.S. Amateur Championship is a double elimination tournament that offers the nation’s top amateur players the opportunity to showcase their skills through a combination of 8-Ball and 9-Ball matches, in the only APA event that does not use The Equalizer® handicap system.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States, and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. Nearly 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9‑Ball league play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces three major tournaments each year—the APA National Team Championships, the APA National Singles Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out nearly $1.5 Million in cash and prizes annually! In 2010, the APA National Team Championships were recognized by Guinness World Records as the “world’s largest pool tournament.”
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues and Pool Dawg.
LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO (April 29, 2014) —The American Poolplayers Association (APA) announced yesterday that the U.S. Amateur Championship trophy will now be known as The Larry Hubbart Trophy in honor of Co-Founder and Billiard Hall of Famer Larry Hubbart who passed away last August. Fellow Co-Founder Terry Bell made the announcement during the Annual APA League Operator Convention in Las Vegas.
“Larry was one of the greatest players of his era. He was always a gentleman and a credit to the game. He loved pool and dedicated most of his life to the promotion and betterment of the sport. I know Larry would be honored to have his name on this most prestigious of all amateur trophies, and recipients will be proud to display it,” said Bell.
The APA also announced the establishment of the Larry Hubbart Memorial exhibit at APA National Headquarters in Lake Saint Louis, Mo. Within this exhibit will reside various awards, artifacts, photographs and articles. Contributions from other’s within the billiard industry are also welcome.
The U.S. Amateur Championship is conducted by the APA, and is the only tournament produced by the APA open to both members and non-members. It’s a double elimination tournament that offers the nation’s top amateur players the opportunity to showcase their skills through a combination of 8-Ball and 9-Ball matches, in the only APA event that does not use The Equalizer® handicap system.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States, and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. Nearly 260,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9 Ball league play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces three major tournaments each year—the APA National Team Championships, the APA National Singles Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out nearly $1.5 Million in cash and prizes annually! In 2010, the APA National Team Championships were recognized by Guinness World Records as the “world’s largest pool tournament.”
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues and Pool Dawg.
For more information on the APA or the U.S. Amateur Championship, please visitwww.poolplayers.com.
We received the news today that Larry Hubbart has succumbed after suffering a long illness. Known as "The Iceman" for his uncannily cool nature in high-stakes games, Mr. Hubbart was a truly unique individual. Originally from Rochester, N.Y., Larry was one of the top professional poolplayers of his era during the late 70s and early 80s, winning numerous titles including the 1976 U.S. Open 8-Ball Championship, 1977 World 9-Ball Championship and the 1979 World 8-Ball Championship.
Always a ferocious tournament and money player, Mr. Hubbart is the one who mentored Mike Sigel and was the first to recognize Sigel's talents to the point where the Hubbart and Sigel road team became the most feared in the country.
Mr. Hubbart will most be remembered for being one of the founders, along with Terry Bell, of the APA. One of the major items that set the APA apart and made it so acceptable was that Bell and Hubbart developed a handicapping system that was superior to the ones that had come before. According to the APA website: "Based on their knowledge of the game, Bell and Hubbart developed a unique handicap system, The Equalizer®, to level the playing field in the League. The Equalizer® utilizes a formula that measures a scoring ability by counting the number of turns it takes a player to win a game. The result is a handicap that determines the number of games a player must win to capture a match. After the handicap system was developed, the APA was formed as the sanctioning body of the League."
In October 2010, Bell and Hubbart were inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service. He was gravely ill at the time of the induction but still managed to express his thanks and gratitude to the assembled crowd.
Mr. Hubbart is survived by his wife, Nancy, and six children and eight grandchildren. APA President Renee Lyle-Beddingfield said: “We’re all extremely saddened by Larry’s passing. He was a great man who was dedicated to his family, his business and to the sport of pool. Larry fought a very courageous battle the past few years, and we hope he’s finally found some peace. Our prayers go out to Nancy and the entire Hubbart family,”
LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO (August 23, 2013) — The APA network is sad to report the passing of APA Co-Founder and Billiard Hall of Famer Larry Hubbart. Hubbart, passed away on August 22 at his home after a long battle with various health issues. Hubbart leaves behind his wife, Nancy, six children, eight grandchildren and countless family and friends.
Originally from Rochester, N.Y., Hubbart was one of the top professional poolplayers of his era during the late 70s and early 80s, winning numerous titles including the 1976 U.S. Open 8-Ball Championship, 1977 World 9-Ball Championship and the 1979 World 8-Ball Championship.
He will best be remembered however for bringing countless amateurs to the sport of pool through the APA Leagues. In the late 70s, Hubbart teamed with partner Terry Bell, to establish the vision for the APA Pool Leagues. That vision lead to an organization that today boasts more than a quarter-million active members and hosts the world’s largest pool tournament.
“We’re all extremely saddened by Larry’s passing. He was a great man who was dedicated to his family, his business and to the sport of pool. Larry fought a very courageous battle the past few years, and we hope he has finally found some peace. Our prayers go out to Nancy and the entire Hubbart family,” said APA President Renee Lyle.
Hubbart’s last public appearance came in October 2010, when he and Bell were inducted in into the Billiard Hall of Fame.
It was perhaps the crowning achievement for a life devoted to the sport of pool.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States, and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. Nearly 270,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9‑Ball League play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces three major tournaments each year—the APA National Team Championships, the APA National Singles Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out nearly $1.5 Million in cash and prizes annually!
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues and PoolDawg.
For more information on the American Poolplayers Association, visit www.poolplayers.com.
