April Wallen moved to the top of the Flamingo Tour rankings with a come-from-the-loss-side victory on Saturday, April 12. The $500-added event drew 27 entrants to Amy's Billiards in Stuart, FL.
The Flamingo Tour operates a modified double elimination format, in which players initially compete in a double elimination bracket, until there are four left on each side. At that point, the remaining eight players are seeded and play single elimination quarterfinal, semifinal and final matches.
Both Wallen and her finals opponent, Crystal McCormick, were in the group of four loss-side competitors, and both, after being awarded an opening round bye, had been sent to the loss side in their first round of play. Wallen had initially been defeated by Roe Guarnero 7-4, and then, on the loss side, chalked up victories over Toni Curry and Helene Caukin, both 5-1. Curry is a tour newcomer who will compete in the Billiards Education Foundation's 9-Ball Nationals in June. Wallen moved among the event's final eight with a 5-2 win over Vanessa Seaver.
McCormick lost a double hill battle versus Kelly Cavanaugh in her opening round of play, and then, went on something of a feast-or-famine, loss-side run. She won her first match, double hill, over Stephanie Mitchell (who came into the event as the tour's top-ranked player) and then shut out Kristie Cloke. Her double hill win over Guarnero put her among the losers' side final four. These two were joined by room owner Amy Poulter and Maridana "Mike" Fitzgerald.
In the meantime, Kellys Coyle and Cavanaugh, along with Jeannie Seaver and Sue Roberts advanced to be the final four on the winners' side. The quarterfinal matches set Coyle up to face Poulter, Cavanaugh met McCormick, Seaver faced Fitzgerald and Wallen squared off against Roberts.
Coyle and Poulter played the most hotly contested quarterfinal match, going double hill, before Coyle prevailed. Mike Fitzgerald defeated Seaver 7-4, and McCormick downed Cavanaugh 7-2, while Wallen advanced to the semifinals with a shutout over Roberts. Wallen's next match wasn't as easy. She and Fitzgerald fought to double hill, before a Fitzgerald scratch with two balls on the table, allowed Wallen to clear and advance to the finals. She was met by McCormick, who'd eliminated Coyle 7-2. April completed her run with a 7-5 victory over McCormick, to claim the event title and the top spot in the current tour rankings.
Tour director Mimi McAndrews thanked room owner Amy Poulter and her staff, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Simonis Cloth Satellite Tour, and Boynton Billiards.
