Zim’s Rack APT 2009 Season Kicks Off

Despite all the efforts by the tournament directors and tour director, the 2009 pool tour season will not include the Paducah Amateur Tour (PAT) or the Springfield Amateur Tour (SAT). Due to a fire and a couple pool room cancellations, we were not able to secure enough host pool rooms for the PAT and SAT; however, the Gateway Amateur Tour is on track and recently held the first 2 events of the 2009 tour season.

With the current economic situation and other scheduled events in the area, the GAT had a small turnout for it's first Qualifier for the season on October 11th at Baxter's in Fairview Heights, Illinois. We drew a field of 16 players with the winner receiving (in addition to regular payout) a paid entry fee into the first Tour Stop of the season.  

The first Tour Stop was held on October 18th at Riverbend Billiards in Alton, Illinois. There were a couple other popular tournaments in the area on the same day, but we were still able to attract 24 participants. We had several new players join the tour and many returning from last year's roster with hopes to qualify for our Final Tour Championship scheduled for October 2009.  

We offer two events per month, a Tour Qualifier and a Tour Stop. Our format is 8 ball, double elimination, and race to the handicaps. Handicaps are based on A, B+, B and C levels and start out at a race to 3 games and adjusts by 1 game increments based on the handicap levels competing. The Tour Qualifiers are a $20 entry fee and no tour membership is required, this is really an event to attract new players. Current tour members receive 10 points for participating in the Qualifiers. Tour membership is required to participate in the Tour Stops, which have the exact same format, but the entry fee is $40 per event. Tour members receive 20 points for participation and additional points for each match they win (A- 1 pt, B+- 2 pts, B- 3 pts & C- 4 pts). Players accumulate points to earn a Bonus Payout at the end of the season. Money accumulates from merchandise sales, raffles and the host poolrooms to be added to the Final Tour Championship (FTC) at the end of the season. The money collected after 12 months is split 20% to Bonus Points Payout and 80% to the FTC. We are projected to accumulate around $10,000 throughout the entire tour season. To qualify to participate in the FTC, players must compete in a minimum of 8 of the 12 Tour Stops, and no minimum points are required, only the participation.

A couple unique items are going to be available this year for raffles. Tickets will be sold during the tour season and the winners will be drawn at the FTC. There are a limited number of tickets, when we're out, we're out! Tickets will be $10.00 each and these will be 2 separate raffles. More details about each raffle coming soon.

1. Complete Cue Repair Station and Hightower jump/break cue. Winner will receive Complete Cue Repair Station and 2nd place will receive a custom jump/break cue by Hightower Custom Cues.

2. Weekend Getaway in Las Vegas. Winner will receive 3 days & 2 nights in Las Vegas with hotel accommodations for 2 and 25% of the raffle proceeds.

October's Results:
Qualifier

1st- Brian Plog (B+)
2nd- Michael Zimmerman (B+)
3rd- Terry Strader (B)
4th- Andrew Edwards (B)

Tour Stop

1st- Jimmy Eberhart (A)
2nd- John Bissell (B+)
3rd- Tommy Ada (B)
4th- Jon Williams (A)
5th/6th- Andy Hauschild (A) & PJ Hoffman (A)

* OB-1 Partial Shaft Raffle Winner- Scott Trauernicht (B)