Si Meng Chen, Karen Corr, Kathy Friend and Yomaylin Feliz
Signing on in a specific attempt to qualify for the WPBA US Open, China's Si Meng Chen entered the Maryland State WPBA 9-Ball Championships, an April 20-21 stop on the J. Pechauer Northeast Women's Tour. The All-Japan Women's Division Champion and Philippine Open Ladies Champion (both 2011) faced a field of 27 that had been drawn to the $1,500-added event at Triple Nines in Elkridge, MD. The field included an already-qualified-for-the-Open Karen Corr, so by the time Chen got into the hot seat by defeating Corr, her primary goal had been accomplished. She completed an undefeated weekend with a victory over Corr in the finals.
Their first meeting was a double hill affair. Chen had sent Nicole Nester west 7-3, as Corr was busy shutting out Kathy Friend. Chen then prevailed in the double hill, hot seat match and waited on Corr's return.
Friend moved to the loss side and picked up Megan Smith, who'd downed Sharon O'Hanlon 7-1 and tour director Linda Shea 7-5. Nester drew Yomaylin "Smiley" Feliz, who'd eliminated Borana Andoni 7-5 and Shanna Lewis 7-2. Friend survived a double hill match against Smith, and in the quarterfinals, faced Feliz, who'd defeated Nester 7-4.
Feliz took the quarterfinal match 7-4, but ran into a seemingly very determined Corr, who shut her out in the semifinals. Neither the wait, nor the history of her opponent phased Chen, as she took the opening set of a potential, double-elimination final 7-2 to claim the Maryland State title, and put a little icing on her qualification for the WPBA US Open.
1st Si Meng Chen $600
2nd Karen Corr $400
3rd Yomaylin Feliz $265
4th Kathy Friend $180
5th Nicole Nester $120
Megan Smith
7th Shanna Lewis $80
Linda Shea
