Megan Smith
Megan Smith went undefeated to capture first place in the New York State Championship of the J. Pechauer Northeast Women's Tour on the weekend of June 19-20. The $1,500-added event drew 24 competitors to Raxx Billiards in West Hempstead, NY.
Smith and her finals opponent, Kim Jones, met twice in the event. From among the winners' side final four, Smith sent tour director Linda Shea west 7-4, as Jones sent Brianna Miller over 7-5. Smith gained the hot seat with a 7-4 win over Jones, and waited for her to come back from the semifinals.
On the one-loss side, Emily Duddy, who'd been sent over by Jones, was working her way back toward her last stand in the quarterfinals. She defeated Gail Blazebrook double hill and Shanna Lewis 7-2 to pick up Shea. Neslihan Gurel, last seen winning the Tri-State Tour, allowed My-Hanh Lac and Borana Andoni only three racks in 17 total games (giving up one to Lac and two to Andoni) and advanced to meet Miller. Miller dropped Gurel into the tie for fifth place 7-4, as Duddy finished Shea's day at the tables 7-3. Duddy battled in the quarterfinal match that followed, but finished in fourth place when Miller sunk the final ball in a double hill match.
Miller got her second chance at Jones in the semifinals, but Jones improved on the earlier 7-5 victory, defeating Miller this time 7-3, and advancing to meet Smith a second time, in an extended race-to-9 final. Smith, though, duplicated her hot seat match victory, defeating Jones 7-4 and taking home the New York State Championship title.
