Jana Montour (Photo courtesy of Don Akerlow - On The Break News)
In a repeat of the Northwest Women's Pool Association (NWPA) season finale last November, Jana Montour and Liz Cole locked up in a finals battle in the opening event of the 2012 season on the weekend of March 3-4. Same opponents, different result. This time, Montour took a more direct route to the finals than the one she'd taken last November, when she had to win eight on the loss side to meet Cole, and this time, she defeated Cole twice to win it. The $1,000-added event drew 34 entrants to The Golden Fleece, in Kenmore, WA.
It was a four-match trip to the winners' side final four for Montour and a three-match journey for Cole, who drew a bye in the opening round. Montour got by Stephanie Goens, Shelby Locati, Eve Stockstill, and Kim Jones to meet up with Shari Ross. Cole defeated Suwanna Kroll, Talya Makus, and Mary Hopkin to meet up with Cindy Sliva. Montour sent Ross west 7-1and turned to the hot seat battle against Cole, who'd sent Sliva over 7-3. Montour took their first of two 7-3, and waited in the hot seat for Cole to come back.
Meanwhile, on the loss-side, Ross met up with Mary Hopkin, who'd been sent west by Cole and defeated Kris Robbins 6-4 and Suzanne Smith 6-3. Sliva drew Kim Jones, who'd been sent west by Montour and defeated Mona Stickley, double hill, and Deby Welfringer 6-2. Sliva and Jones fought to double hill before Sliva prevailed, advancing to the quarterfinals versus Ross, who'd defeated Hopkin, also double hill. Ross chalked up a second straight double hill win in the quarterfinal battle against Sliva and advanced to meet Cole in the semifinals. Cole got her second crack at Montour with a 6-3 victory over Ross.
November's season finale, though won by Cole, left Montour at the top of the 2011 tour rankings; each had won three stops. The single, race-to-9 finals went double hill before Montour prevailed to open the NWPA season the way she'd finished the previous year; at the top of the tour rankings.
