Meiko Yamanobe won her first Arizona Women's Billiard Tour stop this weekend at Metro Sportz Bar in Phoenix.
Yamanobe was unbeaten in the field of 27 players until she dropped the hot-seat 5-4 to Edwidge Cavanna. Meiko took the loss in stride and headed to the left side of the board to take on Anne Gray from Tucson. A weak safety attempt in rack one allowed Gray to bank the game winning 8-ball and take a 1-0 lead, but Yamanobe won the next three games for a 3-1 lead. Gray able to win one more rack to bring the score to 3-2 before Yamanobe finished off the match with a 4-2 win.
The true double elimination finals between Yamanobe and Cavanna saw Cavanna unable to get into any sort of rythem and Yamanobe took full advantage. Yamanobe cruised to a 5-0 win to set up the second set to determine the winner. A miscue late in the first game of the second set allowed Cavanna to win and take a 1-0 lead, but Cananna was unable to cash in on a chance in the second rack and Yamanobe tied the score at 1-1. Cavanna retook the lead at 2-1, but Yamanobe fought back and tied the score again at 2-2. Meiko won rack five to take her first lead at 3-2 and then ran the next rack for a 4-2 lead. Meiko looked to be out in the seventh rack but hung an 8-ball only to get another shot at it when Cavanna missed a tough shot into the same pocket where the 8-ball was hanging. Meiko made the final 8-ball for the 5-2 win.
Yamanobe collected $290 for the win, while Cavanna settled for $198. Gray and Diana Clayton filled out the top four spots. Susan Williams won the second chance tournament held on Sunday.
The AWBT will be at Pockets in Tucson on July 17th and 18th for their next event.
Complete Payouts:
1st Meiko Yamanobe $290
2nd Edwidge Cavanna $198
3rd Anne Gray $146
4th Diana Clayton $104
5th/6th Cathy Kelley, Linda McBride $68
7th/8th Liz Bernreuter, Marney Teague $42
9th/12th Susan Wilbur, Jodie Villegas, Anjie Anderson, Debbie Compton $20
