Donna Favors, Brewlands Billiards Manager Gina Valenti and Asia Cy
The new year brought new faces to the 2017 Tiger Florida Tour Women’s 9-Ball Kick-off event at Brewlands Billiards in Lakeland, Florida, and new faces in the finals. Among them Asia Cy, who made her debut on the TFT by going undefeated in the modified, double elimination format. Cy, who just arrived in Florida days ago from North Carolina, wasted no time getting acclimated to the Florida 9-ball climate. Cy finished the races to 7 easily over Celia Heinbach (7-2), Janice LaRocca (7-1), Stephanie Mitchell (7-3), Donna Favors (7-3) and Michell Monk (7-6) to make it to the Finals.
Favors got to the finals from the one-loss side with initial wins over Lauren Kowalski (7-3) and Lisa McElroy (7-6), then losing to Cy but defeating teen up-and-comer Kaylee McIntosh (5-3). Favors prevailed over Nicolle Cuellar in a tough hill-hill battle in the semi-finals to take on Cy once again in the final match. This was Favors first time in the finals as well. Cy and Favors went neck and neck for the first eight games, then Cy then broke loose and won the next three games for the win. Some of the matches can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZimU3Hg1UA.
Some surprises during the day saw McIntosh, who made the money for the first time, sending home three veteran players - Tour Champion Jeannie Seaver (5-2), Leslee Blaikie (5-1) and Jessica Barnes (5-3). Watch out for this rising star!
Thanks to all the players who turned out for this opening event. We also thank our returning title sponsor Tiger Products; and returning sponsors Great Lakes Billiards, Ultimate Chalkers, Boynton Billiards, AZ Billiards and Discount Mugs. Thank you to Chad Clement, Larry Walthall and Mike Dauskart and everyone at Brewlands Billiards for being great hosts!
