Michelle Brotons
It’s been nice to see the former Tri-State Tour, now, officially, the Predator Tri-State Tour back to its old tricks on the other side of this pandemic thing; new names, competing and winning on the tour and older names getting better and winning on the tour, as well. This past weekend (Saturday, June 26), it was one of the familiar names, Michelle Brotons, making an appearance and winning, not only the $500-added Predator Tri-State event that drew 27 entrants to Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ, but what was her first ever, major tournament win, anywhere.
“This was my first Tri-State since Covid,” she clarified, “but I did win a Mac Attack tour in January (which went unrecorded).”
She ended up in 2nd place in the balloting for the Ladies Player of the Year on the Tri-State in its 2017-2018 season, when she also finished in 3rd place in the tour’s D+ division. The win in January on the Mac Attack Tour moved her into a C+ handicap category, which she might well have kept to herself when she made her appearance on this most recent Predator Tri-State stop. But she didn’t. She reported in as a C+, tour officials made the change and she went undefeated to claim her first major title.
Her path went through Martin Davis, tour veteran Bob Toomey and Paul Madonia to arrive at a winners’ side semifinal against Allison Honeymar. In the meantime, her eventual opponent in the hot seat match, Luis Jimenez had been awarded a bye and then defeated Ricardo Mejia, and Levie Lampaan to face her eventual opponent in the finals, Eddie Medina in the other winners’ side semifinal. Medina had gotten by Tri Chau, Dave Fitzpatrick and Jerry Almodovar to arrive at his winners’ side semifinal match.
Brotons downed Honeymar 6-3, as Jimenez was busy sending Medina to the loss side 7-3. Brotons claimed the hot seat 7-4 over Jimenez and waited on what turned out to be Medina’s return.
On the loss side, Honeymar picked up a rematch with Latania Taylor, whom she’d sent to the loss side in a winners’ side quarterfinal match, and who’d gone on to defeat Tom McManamon 6-4 and Paul Madonia, double hill. Medina drew Levie Lampaan, who’d also been downed in a winners’ side quarterfinal (double hill by Jimenez), and then, eliminated Ricardo Mejia and Tri Chau, both 7-3.
Medina and Lampaan locked up in a double hill fight that eventually sent Medina to the quarterfinals. He was joined by Honeymar, who’d defeated Taylor 6-2.
Medina won the quarterfinal 8-5 over Honeymar to earn a rematch versus Jimenez in the semifinals. They came within a game of double hill, but Medina edged out in front to win it 7-5. Brotons and Medina did get to double hill in the finals. Broton, though, closed it out to claim the title.
Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Clifton Billiards, as well as title sponsor Predator Cues, Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics, Pool & Billiards, Romer Trophies and Professor Q Ball. The next stop on the Predator Tri-State Tour, scheduled for the weekend of July 17-18, will be hosted by New City Billiards and Café in Woodside, NY.
