The Ladies Billiard Association of Florida
April 17 - 18, 1999
Results*
Terri Kelley Finishes First At Capone’s Billiards
Forty-four lady players traveled to Spring Hill, for the third stop on the Ladies Florida Tour. The tournament was hosted by Rocky, owner of Capone’s Billiards and a grand time was had by all. Capone’s is one of the nicest pool rooms in the state of Florida. The contemporary décor is beautiful with neon green accents and the room itself is immaculate. Capone’s features 10 gandy tables sporting simonis cloth, a large gameroom with 8 foot tables, good food and a full service liquor bar. The members of the Ladies Billiard Association of Florida (LBAF) lacked for nothing!
Play began at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. With 10 tables for our use, play moved along swiftly until only 12 players remained. Those players returning in the money on Sunday morning were: Colleen Ness "the blonde bomber" vs. Terri Kelley # 1 ranked player on the tour (sponsored by Sherm Cues) and Bonnie Coats (sponsored by Babes Billiard Supplies and the Florida Billiard Institute) vs. Tina Akard (sponsored by AQ4U) on the winners side. On the one loss side were: Tracie "Casper" Wagner vs. Penny "the Black swan" Swann, Courtney Borge vs. fellow Orlandoen Angie "Funky Spice" Chafin (sponsored by Pro Billiards), Maggie Ritzie, also a "blonde bomber" ranked # 3 on the 1998 Ladies Florida Tour vs. up and comer Jeannie Seaver (sponsored by Jim Chase and the BCA cash 8-ball league) and veteran Marvel Rossner vs. the Saucy Scilian, Michele LaDuca.
Tina Akard made her way through the winners bracket besting Cricket Waldren 7-0, Kia Davis 7-2, Maggie Ritzi 7-4, Angie Chafin 7-4 and Bonnie Coats 7-5 to meet Terri Kelley for winner of the winners side. Tina shot very steady and thoughtful and at one point three fouled the Ladies Florida Tour’s # 1 player. Tina said "for the first time, in a long time, I felt very focused". Tina finished this very tough match with a score of 9-7 earning her the title of winner of the winners side.
On the one loss side Bonnie Coats was repeating last month’s tournament. Bonnie (sponsored by Babe’s Billiard Supplies and the Florida Billiard Institute) mowed down every opponent in her path until she met up with fellow LBAF Advisor, Terri Kelley in the semi finals. Early on, Terri was having bad luck with the scratches and a horrible cold. However, Bonnie’s luck was even worse. With the score tied five all Terri gained momentum and finished the match with a score of 9-5.
In the final match fellow, veterans and LBAF Advisors Terri Kelley (sponsored by Sherm Cues and Tina Akard (sponsored by AQ4U) repeated the winner of the winner’s side match, but with a different outcome. Terri chewing on throat lozenges controlled the match from the get go. No matter what Tina did, the rolls were not going her way. Terri leaped ahead with a score of 7-3. Tina must have given herself a little pep talk because she came back with a vengeance bringing the score to 7-6. With a second wind, Tina was back in the match and the score was tied 8-8. Terri stopped Tina in her tracks with a run out on the 17th game and then made a beautiful 4-9 combo to bring the score 10-8. Terri almost snapped the nine in on the break continued the run out and finished the match with a score of 11-8. As the players shook hands this writer heard Tina exclaim to Terri "you sure play good when you’re sick!"
Congratulations to Terri Kelley for her second win of the 1999 season. Altogether, Terri has won five tournaments in the three-season history of the Ladies Florida Tour. That is what makes her # 1!
Many thanks go to Rocky and the gang at Capone’s. The ladies had a great time!
Final Results at Capone’s Billiards
Spring Hill, Florida
April 17-18
1st $750.00 Terri Kelley Ft. Myers, FL Sponsor: Sherm Cues
2nd $400.00 Tina Akard St. Augustine, FL Sponsor: A Q 4 U
3rd $300.00 Bonnie Coats Vero Beach, FL Sponsor: Babe’s Billiard Supplies and the Florida Billiard Institute
4th $200.00 Courtney Borge Orlando, FL
5th-6th $150.00 Colleen Ness Bradenton, FL
Maggie Ritzie Bradenton, FL
7th-8th $100.00 Marvel Rossner Coral Springs, FL
Tracie Wagner Cairo, GA
9th-12th $75.00 Penny Swann Oxford, England
Jeannie Seaver Rockledge, FL Sponsor: Jim Chase BCA and the Cash 8 Ball League
Angie Chafin Orlando, FL Sponsor: Pro Billiards
Michele La Duca Orlando, FL
*Thanks to Tracy McCreary of the LBAF for the above article!
Below are reprints from the St. Petersburg Times / Hernando Times
Fort Myers woman wins $750 billiards title.
Terri Kelley defeats Tina Akard 11-9 in 9-ball at Capone's Billiards.
By GREG AUMAN © St. Petersburg Times, published April 20, 1999
Terri Kelley of Fort Myers edged Tina Akard of St. Augustine to win $750 Sunday in the Ladies Billiard Association of Florida tour stop at Capone's Billiards in Spring Hill.
Kelley, the association's top-ranked player since last year, picked up her second win in three 1999 competitions and her fifth in the last two years. She emerged from the losers bracket of the double-elimination tournament after losing Sunday morning. The final, determined by the first player to win 11 games of 9-ball, provided for a close finish as Kelley broke out of an 8-8 tie to pull away for the 11-9 victory.
"Terri wasn't feeling well and was just eating cough lozenges all day," said Tracy McCreary, the association's co-founder. "When it was over, Tina told her, "You sure do play well when you're sick.' "
Akard picked up $400 for second place, while Bonnie Coats of Vero Beach received $300 for third place and Courtney Borge of Orlando earned $200 for taking fourth out of the 44-player field.
The LBAF continues its 12-stop 1999 tour May 15-16 at Pro Billiards in Orlando. For information, call (407) 676-9977.
Click here for St. Petersburg Times article
Women take cues on the road for tourney.
It was the first time the Ladies Billiards Association nine-ball tour has included a stop in Hernando County.
By JOY DAVIS-PLATT © St. Petersburg Times, published April 19, 1999
SPRING HILL -- By the time she was 16, Tracie Wagner had bested all comers at the pool table of the local game room in Cairo, Ga.
When she was old enough, she took on the crowd at the Wigwam Lounge.
This weekend, the 27-year-old pool player competed with 43 other women in the Ladies Billiards Association of Florida's Spring Hill tournament. The tournament, held at Capone's Billiards Lounge on County Line Road was the third stop of the 1999 tour, which will reach places like Miami, Orlando and Lakeland.
By Sunday morning, the field of competitors narrowed through double elimination, leaving only a dozen players. Two lost matches sent a contestant and her pool cue packing.
Each match lasts until one player wins seven games. With closely matched players, some matches last a nerve-racking 13 games.
"It can be gruesome," said organizer Marcy Horowitz. "One missed shot can cost you two games. If you turn over the table, your opponent can run it out."
This is the first time the statewide nine-ball tour has included a stop in Hernando County, said Horowitz. Contestants played for a total of $2,450 with a first prize of $750.
Tracy McCreary, 42, has played pool for 21 years. Three years ago, she and Horowitz teamed to organize the first tour LBAF tour.
"We're here to have fun, make friends and have some competition," said the Melbourne woman. "It's been a very big step for women's pool in this state."
McCreary said the LBAF is like the little sister of the Women's Professional Billiards Association whose tournaments are often televised.
Within two years, Wagner hopes to advance to the professional circuit. Because she never competed in sports as a child, she said it took her a year on the LBAF tour to find her sense of competitiveness.
"I don't care who I'm playing now," she said, running a hand through her short-cropped blonde hair. "That used to bother me, but now I play the table. That's my opponent."
Competition early Sunday was close.
"It's hard to tell who will come away from one of these as a winner," said McCreary. "There are favorites, but it's always anybody's game."
Terri Kelley of Fort Myers is ranked No. 1 on the tour. Between matches, she played a computerized trivia game at the bar. A competitor in about 20 tournaments a year, Kelley said Spring Hill has been one of the nicest stops of the season.
At 36, she has played pool since 1982 when she and a friend wandered into a pool hall in her native Cincinnati.
"Everyone told me I had a good stroke," Kelley said. "But watching good players is how you pick up tricks to make you better."
At noon, Bonnie Coats, 39, prepared for a match against a rival she's known for years. In fact, they split the cost of a hotel room Saturday night.
"Eventually, you have to play someone you're friends with," said the Vero Beach woman. "It's nice to have a laugh, but when it's time to play, it's time to play."
In the end, McCreary said much of a tournament is decided by who can outlast the others, surviving 10-hour days and keeping a clear head.
"A lot of times it's who has the most stamina," she said. "This is survival of the fittest."
Click here for St. Petersburg Times article
History of LBAF
The Ladies Billiard Association of Florida,
Inc., (LBAF) is a not-for-profit sports organization formed to
provide a competitive pool environment for aspiring lady amateur
players.
The LBAF was established in 1996, and boasted
an overwhelming interest of many Florida lady pool players in its
first year. In 1998, the LBAF membership grew to an exciting
number of 84 serious players, and we anticipate an even larger
membership in 1999, as we expand throughout the state of Florida.
Tournaments are scheduled throughout the year,
reaching to cities all across Florida. More than $23,000 was paid
to top tournament finishers in the 1998 season alone. The LBAF
also holds qualifying tournaments to provide players with an
opportunity to compete in WPBA Classic Tour Events.
The LBAF is sanctioned by the Womens
Professional Billiards Association.
Players meeting starts at 11:30 AM, play
begins at Noon!
**$50 entry fee for each tournament event**
Rules of Play
Tournament Format:
Double elimination
Matches are "race to seven"
Semi-finals - "race to nine"
Final round - "race to eleven"
9-Ball Express Rules
Dress Code:
Clean tennis shoes are acceptable
No shorts, jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, jogging
suits,
or stirrup pants
LBAF Memberships
A player's membership is valid for the
tournament season during which it is purchased,
and can be purchased at any LBAF event.
Florida Residents = $50.00 per year or $20.00
per tournament event
Non-Florida Residents = $50.00 per year or
$25.00 per tournament event
Non-US Residents = $100.00 per year or $25.00
per tournament event
For additional information contact:
Billiard Lounge
(352) 688-9965
