In rare form, Jeannie Seaver not only showed up to play on Saturday but she played to win with the flair and unique style that earned her way to the WPBA not so long ago. Twenty-three women showed up to vie for the $250-added Flamingo Billiards Tour event at Ultimate Billiards in Ft. Pierce, Florida, including Erica Park, who finished third at the WPBA US Open in June. However, it was Seaver who ended the night in style – reminiscent of the days when 9-ball was first and foremost on her mind.
Although Seaver has always been a threat to anyone in her way, her game has taken a back seat to studying over the past few years. Her focus and dedication finally paid off, graduating this month from nursing school. Maybe it was the excitement of graduation, or just the relief of finishing school, but Seaver was back with flash on Saturday. She started out with wins over Shanelle Loraine and Kira Brown before being sent west by Park 7-3. However, ending up in the one-loss side was not going to stop Seaver on this day. She came back to the hot seat defeating Loraine, 7-5, and Stephanie Mitchell, 7-2.
Park got to the hot seat, winning handily over Tour Director Mimi McAndrews. Amy Poulter, owner of Amy's Billiards, went to the hill with Park, but Park took the match. She won her next match over Seaver, and then played Cassidy Mulligan in the semi-finals, 7-2, to match up with Seaver in the finals.
This was more than just a revenge match for Seaver. This was also a repeat match up of the final match in Jacksonville which Seaver lost. Only this time, Seaver would take the honors. The match started out close 3-3, with each player taking a game in turn. Not to take away from Park, known for her shot making ability as demonstrated by making two incredible jump shots in the final match, but jumping her way out of two safeties wouldn't be enough this time. Seaver turned it one, ran two tough tables and the score was 5-3. An awesome 4-9 rail combo put Seaver on the hill, and she went on to take the match and the $350 first prize.
The day was filled with great matches. Poulter played strong, sending Chris Fields west in a hill-hill match. Poulter also defeated Margie Soash before losing to Park on the hill. Shanelle Loraine also played strong, defeating newcomer and formidable player Jennifer Page in a hill-hill match. Loraine's only losses were to Seaver. Stephanie Mitchell, room owner of Corner Pocket, who made her first appearance this year on the FBT, played tough through to the semi-finals with wins over Susan Miller, Christie Cloke, and Helene Caukin. Mitchell lost in the semi to Seaver. Cassidy Mulligan, who hasn't been seen on the FBT in more than two years, played lights out after being sent west by newcomer Kira Brown. Mulligan went made it to the semi-finals by defeating Sabra MacArthur Beahn, Susan Martin, Amy Poulter, Chris Ann Fields and Helene Caukin. Mulligan lost the semi-final to Erica Park.
A huge thanks again to room owners Bill and JoAnn Malen, and Gary Gilsanen, (www.ultimate-billiards.com), for being great hosts and Boynton Billiards (www.boyntonbilliards.com) for supporting the Flamingo Billiards Tour. Some of the matches can be viewed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/flamingo-billiards-tour.
