In the absence of Karen Corr on the weekend of May 14-15, competitors on the J. Pechauer Northeast Women's Tour (JPNEWT) might have been forgiven for thinking that a window of opportunity had opened, which any one of them might have taken advantage of. Only in that absence, Janet Atwell traveled from her pool room - Borderline Billiards in Bristol, TN - to Sterling, VA and signed on to the $1,000-added ($500 from Coins of the Realm) event that drew 23 entrants to First Break Cafe. Though sent to the semifinals by Tour Director Linda Shea in the battle for the hot seat, Atwell returned and defeated Shea in the finals to claim the event title; her first on the JPNEWT.
Atwell's journey to the winners' circle of this third stop on the JPNEWT was not without its challenges. Following an opening round victory over Terry Thomas 7-1, Buffy Jolie gave her all she could handle in a double hill fight that did eventually advance Atwell to a meeting and victory over Dawn Fox 7-4. This set Atwell up in a winners' side semifinal versus Brianna Miller. Shea, in the meantime, had chalked up two shutouts, and a second round, 7-5 win over Kia Sidbury to face Meredith Lynch in the other winners' side semifinal.
Atwell and Shea defeated Miller and Lynch, respectively, both 7-2, and squared off in the hot seat match. Shea won it, double hill and waited in the hot seat for Atwell's return.
Miller moved over and picked up Sierra Reams, who'd eliminated Terry Stovall 7-4 and Judie Wilson 7-5. Lynch drew Dawn Fox, who, following her defeat at the hands of Atwell, had defeated Carol Clark and Kia Sidbury, both 7-4.
Miller defeated Sierra Reams 7-1. Reams would end up earning this event's qualification to the NAPT event, to be held the first week in June. Miller was joined in the quarterfinal match by Fox, who'd defeated Lynch 7-4.
Miller downed Fox 7-3, and then, by the same score, was eliminated by Atwell in the semifinals. Atwell turned to face Shea in a re-match. Atwell won it 9-5 to claim her first JPNEWT title.
