Janet Atwell and Ashley Nandrasy
The OB Cues Ladies Tour held its 5th tour stop of this season and our host stop is always a favorite spot for all pool players around the country. We are speaking about Magoo's Billiards in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Everyone at Magoo's from the staff to the owners to pool patrons to friends and family joined us for some great fun and good times July 24th/25th weekend.
Special thanks to Jim and Laura McDermott for welcoming us to their fabulous poolroom; they have been regular hosts on our OB Cues Ladies Tour for many years now and we hope to continue to enjoy their hospitality and spacious environment for future events.
As this stop was an Oklahoma State Championship, WPBA pros were allowed to play and we were excited to have 3 current WPBA players join the competition. Janet Atwell, Belinda Calhoun and Kyoko Sone were looking to get in some table time and practice before the WPBA U.S. Open in neighboring Norman, Oklahoma this upcoming week. As the tournament draw was completed, right out the shoot it was Belinda Calhoun and Kyoko Sone to start things off. Twenty-eight ladies rolled up their sleeves and said “let the games begin” as the heat inside was just as hot as outside. Players were vying for the guaranteed 1st place prize money of $750 and as the tournament day wound down, eight ladies were still in the running.
On Sunday, winner side matches included two regular tour top players Tara Williams vs. Ashley Nandrasy and WPBA veteran Janet Atwell vs. Melinda Bailey. Janet Atwell attended last year's Oklahoma State Championship and took 2nd place. She came back to avenge that finish and was on a 1st place quest. On the B-side of the bracket was another WPBA veteran Belinda Calhoun to take on Jennifer Kraber and Tracie Voelkering vs. Lisa Marr. As the matches progressed, it would be Janet vs. Ashley for the hot seat and Janet looking more to win this event as she played pretty sporty taking the winner's bracket with a score of 7-2.
But Ashley was not finished yet. Ashley had an excellent tournament run in a very tough bracket. She managed wins over Denise Jones 7-3; Julie Comitini 7-0; Belinda Calhoun 7-4; Tara Williams twice 7-4 and 7-3 to get another shot at Janet. In true double elimination--race to 7 format, Ashley would have to defeat Janet twice. As the 1st set commenced, Janet was missing critical shots and Ashley was finishing games and won 7-2 to force a second set. The second set was a teeter-totter match. It was 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2 and so on. All in all, the second match consisted of a battle of safeties, kicks, banks, caroms and fortunate rolls for both players. As the score was hill-hill, it all comes down to Janet kicking at an 8-ball and with a little nudge off the 9-ball, the 8 goes in, leaving a straight in shot on the 9 for the win. Congratulations to Ashley for a nice 2nd place finish. Also congratulations to Janet for her 1st place win and $750. Janet is also sponsored by OB Cues who coincidentally is also our Tour Sponsor so be sure to check them out at www.obcues.com.
Our 6th stop of the season will be at Billiard Den in Richardson, Texas, August 21st-22nd weekend. Check us out at www.obcuestour.com Good Pool, Good Friends, Good Times
