Meredith Lynch moved up into second place in the J. Pechauer Northeast Women's Tour rankings on the weekend of October 1-2, with an undefeated win on the tour's 10th stop. The $1,000-added event ($500 from Coins of the Realm), which was in scheduling competition with Vivian Villareal's Tornado Open in Florida, drew a short field of 15 to First Break Cafe in Sterling, VA.
Lynch's five-match march to the winners' circle went through Tina Malm, twice. Following victories over Nicole Fleming and Terri Stovall, Lynch moved into a winners' side semifinal against Kathy Friend. Malm, in the meantime, having been the single recipient of a bye in the 16-player bracket, defeated Heather Platter and in the other winners' side semifinal, faced Elaine Wilson.
Lynch and Malm moved into the hot seat match with identical 9-7 scores over Friend and Wilson. Lynch claimed the hot seat 9-6 over Malm, and waited on her return.
On the loss side, Elaine Wilson drew Judie Wilson, who'd been sent to the loss side in the opening round by Malm, and following a bye, defeated Stovall 7-3 and the tour's #1-ranked player, Linda Shea 7-2. Friend picked up Nicole King, who'd been defeated by Stovall in the opening round, and on the loss side, got by Nicole Fleming 7-2, Heather Platter, double hill, and Sharon O'Hanlon 7-5.
Elaine Wilson eliminated Judie Wilson 7-3, as Friend was downing King 7-3. Friend dominated the quarterfinal versus Elaine Wilson 7-1, but had her short, two-match winning streak on the loss side ended by Malm in the semifinals 7-4.
Malm got a little closer in the finals, than she had in the hot seat match, chalking up an extra game. Lynch, though, chalked up the win 9-7 to claim the event title.
