Cue Time Billiards in Sebring, FL held the Fury Amateur 9-ball Ladies tournament on August 27th, bringing a small but tough field to rally for the win.
In the first rounds, points-leader Jessica Barnes slipped by Barbara Ellis 7-6, Ellen Van Buren defeated Merri White as well as Jennifer Nelson, Helene Caukin defeated Colleen Russell and Michelle Pond, and Patti Mitchell won over Niki Rasmussen.
The next round saw last stop's winner Ellen Van Buren and fellow runner-up Jessica Barnes face off for a heated battle. It looked like Van Buren would advance when she secured a 6-3 lead in the race to 7, but a mistake on the 8 ball allowed Barnes back in the match. In the next rack Van Buren played a safe on the 7 but Barnes banked it in for the out to trail 6-5. It looked like the match would be over again as Van Buren ran the rack, but an uncharacteristic miss on the 9 left Barnes the opportunity to tie 6-6. The fortunate rolls got Barnes back in the match and with a break and run she took the win to advance to the hot seat match.
Meanwhile Patti Mitchell was just finishing off a match win over Helene Caukin to advance to the hot seat match. Mitchell had a few 4th place finishes under her belt and was well on her way to a higher finish this tournament, despite a case of Vegas jetlag. During the hot seat match, Barnes took control of the first few games with safety play to go up 4-2 but Mitchell put up a fight to come back to tie 4-all. With strong shots on the 8 and 9, Mitchell gained another game but it was too late as Barnes closed it out 7-5.
On the left side Van Buren matched up with Jennifer Nelson. Van Buren was the one that sent Nelson to the B-side but Nelson retaliated and advanced, leaving Van Buren in 4th place. Nelson moved on to the semifinals to face a very determined Mitchell. As it seemed to be the theme of the day, the two went hill-hill before reaching a decision. Mitchell was the one to overcome Nelson, leaving her in 3rd.
The final rematch between Barnes and Mitchell wasn't quite as close as the hot seat as Barnes ran ahead to a 8-3 lead in the race to 9. In the final rack, a miss on the 9-ball by Mitchell left a long tough cut shot for Barnes but Barnes sent it down the rail and into the pocket for a 9-3 win and her 4th Fury victory. Mitchell racked up her highest finish on the tour to date. In addition, Patti and her husband Bill Mitchell will be running the new Fury Amateur 8-ball tour, put on by Kings Bay Promotions. The first 8-ball event will be Sept. 3rd-4th at Cunningham's Billiards in Vero Beach, Florida and will be a $500 added event.
Results: 1st Jessica Barnes $270
2nd Patti Mitchell $150
3rd Jennifer Nelson $80
