Nicolle Cuellar, Kaylee McIntosh Michell Monk and Stephanie Mitchell
Junior competitor Gianna “Gia” Fiore wins first cash payout on the tour
While Kaylee McIntosh and Michel Monk share the headline and top two prizes at Stop #4 of the ladies’ 2023 Florida Tiger Tour this past weekend (Sat., Aug. 19), it was 14-year-old Gianna (Gia) Fiore who caught the attention of tour representatives and participating competitors.
“She was the star of the show,” noted Tour Director Mimi McAndrews, “(stealing it) as she knocked out player after player.”
“She has been playing with us for a few years now and (this weekend) finished ‘in the money’ for the first time,” McAndrews added. “We’re so proud of her and knew that it was just a matter of time.”
The modified, double-elimination event (bracket narrowed down to a single-elimination final eight, four from each side) drew 32 entrants to North Palm Beach Billiards in North Palm Beach, FL. Michel Monk won the WPBA qualifier prize for the right to compete in the WPBA’s Iron City Invitational II, scheduled for Sept. 27-Oct. 1 at Iron City Billiards in Birmingham, AL.
Kaylee McIntosh opened with a 7-3 win over Katie Cool before sending Monk to the loss side 7-2 in the second round and then, defeating Janis Sessions 7-4 to move among the event’s final eight. In the opening-round of single-elimination, McIntosh drew Shanelle Loraine, who advanced to join her from the loss side of the bracket. Stephanie Mitchell got by Sarah Archer 7-4, Deb Teichert and Kelly Carnes (both 7-3) to join the final eight and face “Gia” Fiore, coming over from the loss side. Fiore had lost her opening-round match to Carnes, went on to win four on the loss side, including her last loss-side victory over Janis Sessions 5-2 and advanced to her first ‘money round’ on the tour.
Gianna Fiore
Nicolle Cuellar joined the final eight with victories over Alicia Borja 7-2, Mimi McAndrews 7-1 and Helene Caukin 7-2. Cuellar faced Miranda Orange, joining the final eight from the loss side, in the opening round of single-elimination. Roe Guarnero defeated Danielle Fee 7-1, Jessica Barnes 7-4 and Kelly Coyle 7-1 to be the last of the final eight from the winners’ side. She faced Monk in the opening round of single-elimination.
Michel Monk had followed her second-round loss to McIntosh with three loss-side wins, including a 5-2 win over Caukin that had earned Monk her spot among the event’s final eight. Monk then shut out Guarnero and advanced to the event semifinals against Cuellar, who’d defeated Orange, double-hill. Mitchell ended the teenager “Gia” Fiore’s day with a 7-4 win and in the semifinals, faced McIntosh, who’d eliminated Shanelle Loraine, double hill.
McIntosh and Mitchell got into a somewhat predictable, double-hill fight for advancement to the finals. McIntosh won it. Monk qualified to join her in the event finals that didn’t happen with a 7-4 victory over Cuellar. In spite of what must certainly have been an ‘itch’ for a rematch, Monk and McIntosh opted out of a final that would have scratched it, though likely not too much before dawn on Sunday morning. They agreed to split the top two cash prizes, but flipped a coin to determine the official winner. McIntosh won the toss.
Tour representatives thanked title sponsor Tony Kalamdaryan with Tiger Products for their continued support of the tour and players, along with Brutal Game Gear, Stitch It To Me, Boynton Billiards, AZ Billiards, Eastern Billiards and Andy Cloth for their support. Thanks were extended as well, to Jerry Sotelo & Stephanie Mitchell for running a smooth tournament. The next stop on the Tiger Florida Tour, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 14, will be the Annual “Cues for the Cure,” hosted by The Corner Pocket in Largo, FL.
1 comment