HUNTER CLASSICS AMATEUR WOMEN'S TOUR
Points
Race Heats Up!
Fifth Stop at Pool Sharks
in Vegas... The points race for Hunter
Classics Tour Championship heats up. It's a tie for 1st place between
Kim White and Gail Lave! These ladies have each won 2 events apiece
and now they are in a tie for the tour championship with two events to
go! Good luck ladies.
The 5th tour stop was held
at Pool Sharks in Las Vegas, NV. 37 very talented women competed
in this event. Almost half of the field was in contention for the
WPBA qualifier spot. 12 of the 16 ladies that paid for the qualifier
came back to play on Sunday.
The tournament started on
Saturday at 10am with play lasting until 5pm to pare down the field to
16 players. A large contingent of very strong players from the Arizona
Women's Tour attended this tournament. Many of the AZ players were
in the top 16. Also, congratulations to Andrea Boese of Denver, CO
for her outstanding 5th/6th place finish - she prevailed over many tough
players. In addition - a special mention goes to Holly Gilbert of Boulder,
CO for coming back to play on Sunday.
On Sunday, it was a mix of
Hunter Classics Tour veterans and new players to the tour. All very
determined and talented ladies. The final 4 ladies were all focused on
the 1st place/qualifier spot.
It appeared that Kim White
was on a mission to capture her 3rd win of the year. While Melissa
Herndon, newcomer to the tour, was determined to make her mark and win
the qualifier. Jennifer Prost, a very talented player from Michigan,
coming off a qualifier win in Ohio, was looking for her first Hunter win.
Susan Mello, an AZ player with an excellent track record, was also coming
on strong after losing her first match of the tournament and battling back
through the 1 loss side.
Kim and Melissa played for
the hot seat. It was a close match with Kim winning the hot seat
7-6 - sending Melissa to the 1 loss side while Jennifer Prost and Susan
Mello battled it out. Jennifer prevailed against Susan and took the
semi-final match with Melissa hill-hill. Bound and determined Melissa
won that last game for a re-match with Kim White.
The final match was a nail-biter.
It was a see-saw match back and forth. Melissa reached the hill first.
10-9. Kim was on the 9 ball to take it hill-hill, and did not make
it leaving Melissa the win. Congratulations to Melissa on her first
Hunter win! Also, congratulations to Kim White. Of the 4 events
she has played in, her lowest finish has been 4th place! Her second
place finish now puts her in a tie for the tour championship.
On Sunday, the 2nd Chance
tournament started at 11am. Congratulations to Amy Peterson for her win
and $120. Finishing 2nd and 3rd were Judi Wickelgren ($70) and Juli Ekman
($40) respectively. Also, a special congratulations to Nancy Goodwin, long
time Hunter tour player, for her highest finish yet - 4th place and $20.
The winner of the beautiful
Hunter Classics Custom Cue valued at $2,200 was J'Lene Barnes!
Thanks to the owners of Pool
Sharks Joe Cannella and John Kutcher. Also thanks to Susan Conlee
for helping organize the tournament. The very handsome tournament
director, Bruce Prince, did a great job keeping things going. Thanks
to Kurt Lehr and Rich Walkuski for all their help. A special thanks
to J'Lene Barnes and Bullseye Billiards for all the prizes donated.
Thanks to Lou (Machine gun)
Butera. He is Pool Sharks' previous owner and dropped by both days.
He was nice enough to give autographs and take pictures. He currently is
playing on the senior tour.
Last by not least - thanks
so much to Wes Hunter of Hunter Classics Custom Cues- who has made this
tour possible.
Pictures from Vegas!
Kim White (2nd place) and
Melissa Herndon (1st place)
PLAYER Melissa Herndon
Kim White
Jennifer Prost
Susan Mello
Andrea Bose
Sara Miller
Brenda Plantz
Julie Stephenson
Melinda Huong
Katie Gray
Annie Gray
Debra Cerchi
Holly Gilbert
Regina Girardo
Katie Moses
Lucille Donahue
