My-Hanh Lac comes back to best Squires in JPNEWT finals

My-Hanh Lac came back from the one-loss side to meet and defeat Cheryl Squire in the finals of the J. Pechauer New England Women's Tour stop on the weekend of April 2-3. The $500-added event, streamed via UStream, drew 25 entrants to the Triple Nine Bar and Billiards in Elkridge, MD.

Lac's trip to the finals went through Kathy Friend twice; first, from among the winners' side final four, when Friend sent her to the one-loss side 7-3, and later in the semifinals. Friend moved on to the hot seat match against Squire, who'd defeated Briana Miller 7-3 (Miller was fresh off her fourth place finish in the WPBA Regional Tour Championships). Squire gained the hot seat with a 7-5 victory over Friend and waited for what turned out to be Lac's return.

Lac moved over to face Tina Meraglio, who'd defeated Sharon O'Hanlon 7-2 and Lai Li 7-5. Miller drew Borana Andoni, whom she'd sent to the one-loss side after a double hill struggle in the second round. Andoni survived a double hill battle versus Eugenia Gystopouls (sent west by Lac), and a 7-4 victory over Pauline Mattes for a second chance against Miller, to no avail as it turned out. Miller won the second match versus Andoni 7-5, as Lac downed Meraglio 7-4.

Lac and Miller then locked up in a double hill, quarterfinal match that was eventually won by Lac, offering her the opportunity for a rematch against Friend in the semifinals. She took full advantage, defeating Friend 7-5, and moving into the single, extended-race-to-9 battle against Squire. Lac reached 7 games first, forcing the extension and went on to a 9-5 victory that earned her top honors.