MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA - November 16, 2005
Last Night, Billiards Hall of Famer Ewa Mataya Laurance defeated the world's top-ranked women's player, Allison Fisher, in a nine-ball exhibition at the House of Blues Myrtle Beach, but the big winners were the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
It's been over two months since Hurricane Katrina ripped thru the great city of New Orleans and devastated so many lives and homes of our fellow citizens. But with the help of these 2 lovely ladies and emcee/ESPN Commentator Mitch Laurance, over 300 spectators came out and helped us raise over $24,000 to benefit the victims. Including a surprise $15,000 cash donation from Centex Homes of Myrtle Beach.
With Silent Auction items up for bid, including a playing spot in the Pro-Am Monday After the Masters Golf Tournament put on by South Carolina favorite Hootie and The Blowfish, a VIP Billiards package to the WPBA Championship in Rocky Mount, NC, Brunswick Cues, and Mike Massey Billiard Cue & DVD's. But the main attraction were the 30 playing spots up for bid to challenge either Ewa or Allison in a one on one match.
As the Myrtle Beach Sun News Reported "'I was a gentleman and let her win," joked Lynn Williams of Myrtle Beach, who made the mistake of telling Laurance he had never lost to a woman before she ran the table on him. "They're both really good."'
The evenings proceeds will be divided between the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity and our House of Blues Team New Orleans, as we help our fellow Blues Brothers & Sisters, in putting back together their lives; as so many of them lost everything in this storm.
A special thanks to our Champs, Ewa, Allison and emcee Mitch, but also to everyone who came out and donated, Channel 13 Myrtle Beach, Channel 15 Myrtle Beach, The Sun News - Myrtle Beach, Qantum Radio of Myrtle Beach, Cumulus Radio of Myrtle Beach, SeaComm Radio of Wilmington, NC, Centex Homes of Myrtle Beach, Brunswick, Game World of Myrtle Beach, Pool & Billiard Magazine, Myrtle Beach Golf Trips, Primequest, Cuetec and our Myrtle Beach HOB team in helping with this great event, that was so successful.
File photo courtesy of Diana Hoppe - Pool Pics By Hoppe
