Chelsea Hoyt and Kathy Thomas
It was a small field that gathered for the season finale of the Midwest Ladies Regional Tour (MLRT) and in some ways, that turned out to be a bit of blessing for Chelsea Hoyt, who took advantage of the small field to win four straight matches and claim her first title in her debut appearance on the tour. The $500-added event drew seven entrants to Cushions Billiards & Lounge in Westerville, OH on Saturday, October 26.
Hoyt had to get by Kathy Thomas twice to claim the event title. They met first in the hot seat match, after Hoyt had defeated Ashley McKee 7-3 and in a winners’ side semifinal, Kim Wiehl 7-4. Thomas had gotten by Chelsea Hoyt’s sister, Jessica 7-5 and in her winners’ side semifinal match, survived a double hill encounter versus MLRT director Angela Williams. Hoyt and Thomas battled to double hill, as well, with Hoyt eventually prevailing to sit in the hot seat.
On the loss side, Williams picked up McKee and Wiehl drew Heather Winter, who’d recently shutout Jessica Hoyt. It created the unlikely and hard to duplicate circumstance of a tournament that was going to end with two sisters finishing in first and last place.
Winter eliminated Wiehl 6-4 and was joined in the quarterfinal match by Williams, who’d shut out McKee. Winter and Williams fought to double hill in those quarterfinals before Williams advanced to face Thomas in the semifinals.
Another double hill match ensued, and was eventually won by Thomas, who got a second shot at Hoyt in the hot seat. Hoyt completed her short, undefeated run with a 7-2 victory in the finals.
Tour director Williams thanked the ownership and staff at Cushions Billiards & Lounge, as well as sponsors Railbirds Productions, McDermott Cues and AZ Billiards. The MLRT will return with a season opener in March or April of 2020.
