Brian Parks
LAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO (November 16, 2012) — The top amateur poolplayers in North America headed south to the Sunshine State in early-November to compete in the U.S. Amateur Championship. The 2012 version of the sport’s most prestigious amateur tournament featured 128 men and 32 women all with the dream of adding the title “U.S. Amateur Champion” to their billiard resume.
The Men’s Division began Fri., Nov. 9 at Stroker’s in Palm Harbor, while the Women’s Division got underway Sat., Nov. 10 at the Crooked Cue in Clearwater. Both divisions came together on Sun., Nov. 11 at Stroker’s for the final rounds of competition.
This year’s event featured a strong mix of U.S. Amateur Championship veterans as well as a talented pool of newcomers. In all, more than 1,700 players attempted to qualify for this year’s tournament.
In the finals the of the Women’s Division, Tammie Jones of Muncie, Ind., defeated Asia Cycak of Raleigh, N.C., 9-4.
“This is the tournament I’ve wanted to play in my entire career and to be able to come here and win this Championship means the world to me,” said Jones after the match.
Jones relished the thought of knowing that wherever she goes, and whatever tournament she plays in, she’ll forever be known as a U.S. Amateur Champion.
“The title U.S. Amateur Champion lasts forever, and that was in my mind every single match. I wanted that title, and to be able to hold onto it forever,” she added.
Jones moves on to compete in the WPBA U.S. Open next year. Cycak finished as the Runner-up in her first U.S. Amateur Championship competition. Finishing in 3rd Place was Christine Honeman of Conifer, Colo., who was also making her first U.S. Amateur Championship appearance.
In the Men’s Division, former champion Brian Parks of Bakersfield, Calif., defeated Daniel G.rdon of Marietta, Ga., 11-4. The victory was Parks second U.S. Amateur Championship title, having won the event in 2009 as well.
“I’m just really happy. I played hard, I competed hard. I take my hat off to Dan (Gordon), he’s a great competitor,” said Parks after the victory.
Parks, a U.S. Amateur Championship regular, said the victory meant even more to him the second time around given the outstanding level of competition that the U.S. Amateur Championship offers.
“The competition just gets better and better. There are so many top notch players here, and to go through the 128-player field that we do, it just seems to get harder and harder to win, but I can’t wait to come back again next year,” he added.
Parks will advance to the U.S. Open Championship next year. Gordon finished as the Runner-up in only his second U.S. Amateur Championship performance, and recorded two impressive wins over defending champion Ernesto Bayaua of Houston, Texas who finished in 3rd Place.
In 4th Place was Troy Jones of Muncie, Ind. Stewart Warnock of Bardonia, N.Y., and Jeff Blattel of North Augusta, S.C., tied for 5th Place.
The 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship was conducted by the APA, and is the only tournament produced by the APA open to both members and non-members. Preliminary qualifying rounds were held throughout the country in mid-September.
As Champions, both Jones and Parks will return next year to defend their coveted titles.
The U.S. Amateur Championship is a double elimination tournament that offers the nation’s top amateur players the opportunity to showcase their skills through a combination of 8-Ball and 9-Ball matches, in the only APA event that does not use The Equalizer® handicap system.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States, and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. Nearly 270,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9‑Ball league play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces three major tournaments each year—the APA National Team Championships, the APA National Singles Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out nearly $1.5 Million in cash and prizes annually! In 2010, the APA National Team Championships were recognized by Guinness World Records as the “world’s largest pool tournament.”
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues and Pool Dawg.
For complete coverage of the U.S. Amateur Championship visit http://usamateurchampionship.com/coverage/2012/.
