 Leslie Anne Rogers (3rd), Lisa Marr (2nd), Melinda Hinojosa (4th) and Heather Lloyd (1st) |
The Hunter Classics Tour held their last 2007 tour stop at Legend's in League City, Texas the weekend of November 17th-18th. This was the final leg of the 10-stop 2008 season and there was plenty of fun, competition, and action going on all weekend long. With this 10th tour stop also being our Championship stop, the buzz was all about with who would be the 2007 Regional Tour Champion with only 65 points separating the 1st and 2nd place tour players; who would get the most improved player award this year; who would win the $200 perfect attendance money; who would win the $1600 custom Wes Hunter cue; who would win a 2008 WPBA event qualifier? And the list goes on.
But before we get into the details of the weekend and during this time of Thanksgiving, we have to give our most utmost & heartfelt thanks to Wes Hunter, sponsor of the Hunter Classics Tour. Wes has been supporting this tour for 14 years now and without Wes, we would not be in existence. Wes, from all your Hunter Classic Tour ladies, a big THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!!!
Thank you also to Mindy Cohen and her staff at Legend's for hosting our Championship event. Your hospitality, tournament direction, food, service, added monies, was over and above as usual, and we look forward to seeing you again next year. Thank you for everything, Legend's!!!
Also special Thanksgiving thanks to all supporters of the tour from Wes & Cindy Hunter to all the Hunter tour ladies who are members of our family. Thanks and blessings to everyone!
Special thanks to Lisa Marr and her secret mission crew for bestowing on each of the Hunter Tour Board of Directors their special "Superstar" trophy. It was quite a surprise and know that all board members feel very honored and privileged to receive the trophy. Remember, that everything we do, we do for you ALL!
Many awards are presented at the season finale tournament, including the coveted Most Improved Player. It was a tough decision for the board with candidates like Shayla Neris, Jennifer Kraber, and Michelle Yim, but Kyu Yi shot up in the rankings from last year to 6th place this year and deservedly earned the award (along with a nice plaque). Congratulations Kyu!
Also there were 10 ladies who attended each tour stop in 2007 and in a random drawing Shayla Neris came out $200 richer to receive the perfect attendance award. And not a moment too soon as Shayla is knee deep in wedding preparations. Congrats Shayla!
Other Award winners:
Hunter Classucs Custom Cue won by Sherry Pouncey
Free entry drawing won by Melinda Hinojosa.
Free glove certificate donated by Ellen Van Buren and Gail Grecar won by Kyu Yi.
Free Pool and Billiard subscription was by Lucille Donahue.
Free $50 Samm's Side Pocket goody bag won by Michelle Yim.
Free $90 beauty gift basket won by Diana Cardona.
Each person with perfect attendance (by attending all 10 stops) earned one free entry into 2008, along with the $200 drawing.
The Most Improved Player and Tour Champion will each receive all their entry fees free into the Hunter Classics Tour for 2007.
Forty-two women came to play and play is what they did. We had several big firsts for this last stop and we hope to see many more of these firsts in years to come. Twelve players returned to play in the Main Event on Sunday and those twelve included Melinda Hinojosa vs. Leslie Anne Rogers and Heather Lloyd vs. Michelle Ram on the winner's side. On the other side of the bracket, it was Lisa Marr vs. Sherri Smith, Amanda Lampert vs. Courtney Peters, Tara McCracken vs. Terry Petrosino, and Jennifer Kraber vs. Sherry Pouncey. Sherri Smith, a longtime Hunter tour player, scored her highest Hunter tour finish with a nice 9th-12th place—congrats to Sherri! Michelle Ram scored a nice 5th/6th place finish. Michelle, you rock! We also had board member Melinda Hinojosa with an awesome 4th place finish---Wow, good job Melinda!
For the hot seat match, it was a face-off between 5-time Hunter Tour Champion Leslie Anne Rogers vs. 2006 Hunter Tour Champion Heather Lloyd. Leslie Anne is moving to Japan next year and this would be her final Hunter tour stop. Will Leslie Anne make it #6, or will Heather repeat with back-to-back tour championships?
The pressure was on for both girls and it would be Heather winning the winner's bracket with a score of 7-2. With this win, she also won the 2007 Hunter Tour Champion award, a 2008 WPBA event qualifier and also eventually won this 10th stop. In the finals, it would be Heather against Lisa Marr. Lisa's first loss was against Tara "Firecracker" McCracken and Lisa continued to forge ahead with her winning ways on Saturday and would continue on winning until she got to the finals against Heather. Lisa would need to win two sets against Heather but Heather was unstoppable winning the final set 7-5. Heather, what can we say, but you are awesome and a true champion in every way. We are very proud of you---congrats Heather!
We also had a little going away party for Leslie Anne who was very touched by the sentiments shared by all Hunter tour players, fans, family and other well-wishers. Goodbye and good luck to you, Leslie Anne! Sayonara! Don't forget your Hunter Tour family.
We wish to extend holiday season greetings to everyone on the tour. We hope to see you next year for a fantastic 2008!
