The Ladies Billiard Association of Florida (LBAF) wrapped up their 1999 Ladies Florida Tour with a Grand Finale on December 4-5. The ceremony and final tournament was held at Capone’s Billiards in Springhill and hosted by the incomparable Rocky McElroy. Rocky won the right to host the Grand Finale by being the winner with the highest bid, which was $2500. This is the largest money added to an amateur ladies event ever held in Florida.
This semi formal event was an invitation only to members of the LBAF who have supported the tour through out the season. The event included an awards ceremony in the morning followed by a final tournament for the year. An acrylic 1st Place award and satin baseball jacket embroidered with the LBAF logo was presented to Jeannie Seaver of Rockledge, for her Number One ranking for the 1999 season. Certificates were presented to the Number Two and Number Three ranked players on the tour, Bonnie Coats of Vero Beach and Linda Permenter of North Clearwater. Bonnie was presented with a satin baseball jacket with the LBAF logo and Linda was presented with a cardigan also embroidered with the LBAF logo. The number one and number two players were also awarded with a certificate inviting them to the upcoming WPBA Nationals.
Other awards and certificates given during the ceremony were: Most Professional Player, Penny Swann for her sportsmanlike conduct, by taking defeat without complaint, victory without gloating, and treating her opponents with fairness, courtesy, and respect. Most Supportive Member, Pamela Dexter for her outstanding support and promotion of the LBAF. Most Congenial, Karen Dager, for her friendly, amiable and cordial attitude toward her fellow players. Most Improved Player(s) (tie) Jennifer Prost of Tampa and Michele LaDuca for demonstrating the greatest improvement in technique and achievement. Most Impeccably Dressed Member, Debbie Alfrey for setting a brilliant example for other members with her wonderful fashion sense. Perfect Attendance, Jennifer Prost, Bonnie Coats, Jeannie Seaver and Linda Permenter for attending all the tournaments through out the season. Farthest Traveling Member(s) (tie) Cynthia Ferrer (Dallas, TX) and Tracie Majors (Cairo, GA) for continuously traveling great distances to compete. And last but not least, Most Supportive Spectator(s) (tie) Mark Permenter (tournament hubby) and Judylyn Santos (tournament mom) for their devoted support for all the players. Tournament Directors, Tracy McCreary and Marcy Horowitz presented the LBAF Advisors, Bonnie Coats, Tina Akard and Roberta Case with polo shirts embroidered with the LBAF logo for their help with the tour. In addition, the directors gave Roberta a beautiful briefcase embroidered with the LBAF logo for her outstanding work with the LBAF Website and Newsletter. At the end of the ceremony, Bonnie Coats presented the directors with beautiful flower lined goodie baskets, which included soaps, lotions and gift certificates from the LBAF members. One final surprise was our most congenial, Karen Dager invited the members over to a television where she played a video tape created by her, a friend and fellow member Maggie Ritzie singing Tour Directing is Hard to Do-to the tune of Breaking Up is Hard to Do. While the members laughed, the directors cried because their gesture was so very much appreciated.
Immediately following the ceremony the twenty-eight attendees put up their entry fee vying for the $3600 prizefund. With such a large prizefund the directors decided to pay out the thirteenth through sixteenth places, which was over half of the field. Dressed in sparkles and sequins, play continued into the early evening until only twelve players remained.
On Sunday morning, those returning on the winner’s side were Penny Swann, Most Professional Player vs. LBAF Advisor Tina Akard and Number three ranked player, Linda Permenter vs. 2nd Place VNEA Florida State Champ, Kia Davis. On the one loss side were: Number One ranked player, Jeannie Seaver vs. WPBA hopeful, Angie Chafin, LBAF Advisor and Number two ranked player, Bonnie Coats vs Linda Ammons, and Tracie Majors, Farthest Traveling Player vs. Most Improved Player Jennifer Prost.
Penny Swann bested Tina Akard 7-4 and then Linda Permenter in the match for winner of the winner’s side. Linda quickly won the first two games with a 3-9 combo and a 2-9 combo. Undaunted, Penny, sponsored by Shootersville Billiards, and Josey Custom Cues ran out the third game to earn her, her first game. Both players executing excellent safeties entertained the spectators with their kicking and jumping abilities. Penny earned herself the title of winner of the winner’s side by defeating Linda 9-5.
On the one loss side Tracie Majors was defeating all her opponents. Tracie defeated Jennifer Prost 7-4, Bonnie Coats 7-1, Tina Akard 7-6 and Jeannie Seaver 9-3. Not only did Tracie defeat her opponents she controlled both matches with the Number One and Number Two ranked players by a long shot. Tracie turned her sights on the Number Three ranked player and traded game for game with Linda Permenter. Tracie bested Linda by only two games in the semi-final match and won the match with a score of 9-7.
Tracie set her sights on Penny "the black swan" to pay her back for her only loss. Penny had defeated Tracie by one game on Saturday with a score of 7-6. Early in the match the competitors traded game for game with run outs and smart safeties. Tracie then moved ahead earning three quick games by executing a 1-9 combo, a 2-9 combo and another 1-9 combo. Tracie earned her first win on the Ladies Florida Tour and title of Grand Finale Champion by defeating Penny Swann 11-4.
Tracie was awarded $1000, a Giuseppe Custom Cue Case and a three-foot tall trophy provided by Capone’s Billiards. Rocky also awarded trophies to Penny Swann for her second place finish, Linda Permenter for her third place finish and Jeannie Seaver for her fourth place finish.
The LBAF would like to thank Rocky, owner of Capone’s Billiards for his generosity and support. Rocky has already signed up for a Ladies Florida Tour stop and qualifier in the year 2000.
Many thanks to the sponsors of the Ladies Florida Tour Grand Finale: Joe Angelitti, of Giuseppe Custom Cue Cases for the donations of cue cases with the LBAF logo. Greg O’ Connor of the Mali/Cuesport Company for the donation of a cue for the event. Corey Rasmussen and Slix Billiard gloves for his donation of cue gloves. Chad Sharlow of Diamond Billiard Products for his continued support, Valter Morais, artist of the LBAF Logo, Phil Capelle for his donation of Play Your Best Pool book and John Trudeau of Palmnet Internet Service for our beautiful LBAF Website.
The Ladies Billiard Association of Florida plans to take a two month break and then the Tour will begin it’s fourth year with a season opener at Wally’s Billiards, in Lakeland on February 26-27. This event is a WPBA Player’s Choice Qualifier and is open to amateurs and semi-professional players. Happy Holidays—See you next year!
FINAL RESULTS CAPONE’S BILLIARDS
Springhill Florida
LADIES FLORIDA TOUR GRAND FINALE
December 4-5, 1999
1st Tracie Majors, Tallahassee $1000 PLUS
Giuseppe Cue Case with LBAF Logo
2nd Penny Swann, Delray Beach $600
3rd Linda Permenter, N. Clearwater $400
4th Jeannie Seaver, Rockledge $300
5th-6th Kia Davis, Sarasota $200
Tina Akard, St. Augustine $200
7th-8th Stephanie Godfrey, Palm Harbor $150
Bonnie Coats, Vero Beach $150
9th-12th Jennifer Prost, Tampa $100
Linda Ammons, Orlando $100
Angie Chafin, Orlando $100
Sabra MacArthur-Beahn, St. Petersburg $100
13th-16th
Marcy Horowitz, Orlando $50
K C Foster Boynton Beach $50
Karen Dager Bradenton $50
Michele LaDuca Orlando $50
*Thanks to Tracy McCreary of the LBAF for the above article!
Below are reprints from the St. Petersburg Times / Hernando Times
Women to return to Capone's for pool
The Ladies Florida Tour finale was a big hit.
By BRANT JAMES © St. Petersburg Times, published December 7, 1999
SPRING HILL -- Capone's hosting of the Ladies Florida Tour Grande Finale was so successful this weekend the Spring Hill pool hall has been approved as a venue for one of the league's two qualifiers next year for the Women's Professional Billiards Association Tour.
Capone's owner, Rocky McElroy, asked LFT coordinator Tracy McCreary for two of 12 regular-season events next season, but "we're trying to talk him out of one," she said. She expressed an earnest hope McElroy will make another bid for the championships, which he hosted for the first time Saturday and Sunday. McElroy bid $2,500 -- which was added to the prize purse -- for the right to host the final.
"We love to go (to Capone's)," McCreary said. "(McElroy) treats us like royalty. It's one of the nicest rooms. He's talking two spots, but that's too hard for us. We have so many rooms and so little time."
McCreary said the tournament, at which one player will earn a spot in a WPBA tournament, will likely be held next summer, but McElroy will be allowed to pick the date.
"I told him whatever month he wants is fine," McCreary said. "He pulls a lot of weight with us."
Tallahassee resident Tracie Majors won the season-ending tournament of the fourth-year circuit, earning $1,000, a custom case and a trophy. Penny Swann (Oxford, England) won $600 for finishing second, Linda Permenter (Clearwater) won $400 and Jeannie Seaver (Rockledge), who was the tour's top point-gainer this season, won $300 by finishing fourth.
A $3,600 prize fund allowed purses to be paid to 14 of the 28 participants, McCreary said.
McElroy also considered the two-day event a success.
"It was fantastic," he said. "It just went great. A lot of women came out, a lot of couples. It was good."
Capone's next marquee event will be a stop on the Florida Pro Open men's tour Jan. 29-30.
Click here for St. Petersburg Times article
Women's pool has big backer in Spring Hill
Rocky McElroy, owner of Capone's billiard hall, has put up $2,500 to host the Ladies Florida Tour for its Grande Finale this weekend.
By BRANT JAMES © St. Petersburg Times, published December 3, 1999
SPRING HILL -- Rocky McElroy admits pool has been very good to him. That's part of the reason why the former touring professional has been so supportive of the sport in Florida since moving to Spring Hill from New York.
As the owner of Capone's billiard hall, supporting the burgeoning Ladies Florida Tour also has made astute business sense.
Both factors attain fruition Saturday and Sunday when Capone's hosts the LFT Grande Finale, the season-ending event of the state's premier semi-professional circuit for women.
"I wanted to help them get this tour on its feet," McElroy, 52, said of the second-year circuit. "I want to encourage other women to get involved. Recreational billiards are becoming a top participation sport in the country, especially with the women. All the upscale lounges are becoming really popular."
McElroy staked $2,500 for his venture, winning the right to host the final by agreeing to add that amount to the purse. That will assure the winner of the 40-woman event a $1,000 cut, said tour coordinator Tracy McCreary.
"That's the largest amount ever added to a women's amateur event in Florida," McCreary said. "Rocky has been a big supporter. We put the final up for bid and he wanted it in his room, and we're glad he got it. It's one of the nicest rooms we play in."
Capone's already hosts amateur and semi-professional leagues five nights a week, and has served as a venue for the Florida Pro Open, which provides play for men and women.
The 75-member LFT effectively serves as a minor league for the Women's Professional Billiards Association, with participants able to qualify for tour events by winning certain LFT competitions. The LFT is sanctioned by the WPBA.
This weekend's event is not a qualifier, but an invitation-only competition for the tour's top players.
The tour's final points leaders -- Jeannie Seaver of Rockledge, Bonnie Coats of Vero Beach and Linda Permenter of Clearwater -- are scheduled to appear. Seaver and Coats have qualified for a WPBA event in January.
"We formed the league to have an outlet for competitive pool," McCreary said, "but this is a steppingstone to the WPBA."
Tour alum Ming Ng spent a year on the WPBA tour after qualifying through the LFT in 1997.
"Maybe one day I'll be good enough to go pro, but not right now," said Seaver, 22. "Right now I'm kind of nervous. I wasn't planning on being the No. 1-ranked player."
Tampa's Jennifer Prost will receive an award Saturday as one of the circuit's "most improved."
McElroy began playing pool after tagging along with his brother, Bruce, to Newburgh, N.Y., billiard halls. He drew inspiration from Newburgh native and Hall of Fame player Willie Hoppe and eventually began competing as a semi-professional by age 14.
"I've played all over -- Vegas, Reno," McElroy said. "I just got back from the U.S. Open in Chesapeake, Va. I was in the top 10 when I moved down here, but with the business I haven't been able to play enough to maintain a ranking. I only get in about 10 tournaments a year now."
A retired IBM employee, McElroy moved to Spring Hill in 1992 and purchased the hall that is now Capone's. He previously owned a billiard hall in Newburgh.
"I came down here to play in a pro tour and I was retiring," McElroy said. "I was looking to build a room, and I made an offer and the (previous owner) took it. I retired in March and came down here in June and took over."
LFT GRANDE FINALE
WHEN: Noon, Saturday, Sunday.
WHERE: Capone's Billiards, 10463 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill
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
