The Jacoby Cues Great Lakes Tour started off its 2004-2005 season with a field of 39 players competing for a total purse of $3340 and the title of Michigan State Champion. The tournament was held at Hall Of Fame Billiards in Warren, MI. Room owner Cass Marcinkowski generously added $500 to the event and another $500 was added by Labaron's Billiard Supply in Sterling Heights, MI.
Tournament director, David Hanshaw, began the $1500 added tournament promptly at 1:00 pm where all eyes were on defending tour champion Rachael "Road Warrior" Abbink. Abbink had a great start to the tournament beating Irene Henry 7-0. She then went on to defeat Julia Gabriel 7-1, Mary Litt 7-2, and Sheri Cole 7-1. These victories put her in the rocking chair match against local favorite Kelly Pendleton, with Abbink winning 7-4.
While Abbink was knocking off her opponents, WPBA touring pro Alice Rim was battling her way through the B side after a second round loss to Sheri Cole 7-6. Alice defeated Irene Henry 7-6, Paula Albright 7-2, Vicki Paski 7-2, Tracy Cantrell 7-1, Sheri Cole 7-5, CJ Jerome 7-1 and Kelly Pendleton 7-1 to meet Abbink in the finals.
Abbink didn't waste any time taking control off the final match with a 5-0 lead over Rim. Rim won game six only to let Abbink go up 7-1. Rim began her comeback by executing some great safety play to make the score 7-4. Rim could not keep control as Abbink went on to win the match 9-4.
The win gave Abbink a paid $500 entry into the 2005 WPBA U.S. Open Championship as well a $1000 payday.
Special thanks go out to Jacoby Custom Cues, Hall of Fame Billiards, Labarons Billiards, Midwest Amusement, Atlas Billiard Supplies, Nick Varner Cues, Championship Billiards, Nineballking.com, Cashindropoff.com, Bebob Publishing, Stroketrainer, and Union Music for making this event possible.
1st Rachael Abbink $1000 and WPBA qualifying spot to 2005 US Open
2nd Alice Rim $600
3rd Kelly Pendleton $400
4th CJ Jerome $250
5th-6th Andrea Knieper, Sheri Cole $125
7th-8th Patricia Street, Tracy Cantrell $80
9th-12th Julia Gabriel, Mary Litt, Gail Grecar, Vicki Paski $50
