Amateurs Shine at USAPL National Championships
Jul 28, 2016
Terry Best reacts after winning the 9-Ball Singles Division at the USAPL National Championships, which concluded Sunday at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas
When the inaugural USAPL National Championships were held in 2011, about 100 players from across the country participated. Now in its sixth year, the handicapped amateur league had about 800 entrants during the USAPL National Championships, which wrapped up Sunday at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Tournament champions hailed from New Mexico, New Hampshire, Colorado, Louisiana and Michigan, and the tournament players came from across the U.S.
Terry Best, a captain for the Shreveport Fire Department in Shreveport, La., fought his way through a 66-person field to win the 9-Ball Singles division. Aaron Almanzor, of Des Moines, Wash. was the runner-up in the division, with Audra Wasson, of Denver, Colo. placing third.
Bill Patterson of Choctaw, Ok. won the 8-Ball Gold Singles Division, with Jimmy Doyle of Port St. Lucie, Fl. placing second and Joel Vetrono of Winter Garden, Fl. taking third.
In the 8-Ball Silver Singles Division, Rick Perea of Albuquerque, N.M., made his mark on the field of 53 players to be named champion. Rick Grosso of Tampa, Fl. and Sam Fitzgerald of Henderson, Nev. came in second and third, respectively.
Woody’s 9-Ballers, a six-person team from the Longmont, Colo. area won the USAPL 9-Ball Team Division. Team members were Joel Armstrong, Tonya J. Haselbush, Mike Jacobs, James Lyman, Woody Quezada and Geoffrey Quezada. The Blasters of Henderson, Nev., placed second. That team included Alma Bielawa, Tony Calabrese, Bill Etienne, Phil Ford, Russ Hackett and Roman Lutak. Who’s That Good? a Hudson, Massachusetts-based team, placed third. Team members were: Chris Alfonso, Joe DiCenso, Matt Finnegan, Matt Garbarino, Kevin Lang and Brian Willard.
Just Chillin’ of Manchester, New Hampshire won the Women’s 8-Ball Team Division. The team members were Diane Casale, Melissa Curtin, Susan Hyun and Nicki Richard. The Ladies of Stimpy’s, based in Kent, Wash., took second. Its members were Annie Almanzor, Christine Dain, Sarha Hicks, Diane Rima and Jennifer Rima. Sassy Strokes of Massachusetts placed third and included Diane Emanuelson, Linda Faust, Sandy Gardner, Michelle Jiang and Denise Leach.
Nothing But Business, based in the greater Detroit, Mich. Area got down to business and beat out its competition to win the 8-Ball Team Division. Its members included Taz Almoamin, Tony Donbrock, Karen Henton, Marty Kasperek, Bryan Somerville and Ed Yax. The Defenders of Federal Way, Wash., placed second and consisted of Steve Hulet, Hodge McClurg, Randy McClurg, Paul Moyer, Rafael Rodriguez Ramirez, and Hitch Wells. Hot Pockets, a team based in Florida, came in third. It included Ali Arauz, Christian Banguera, Marques Fincher, Phil Igharas, Brian Luke, Diana Ly and Pratik Patel.
The Sixth USAPL National Championships was held in conjunction with the 40th BCAPL National Championships, which started July 20 at The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The event, which resumes through July 30, features more than 5,000 amateur players representing 47 states, nine Canadian provinces and 11 countries, competing in approximately 40 divisions, on 300 Diamond pool tables. The annual tournament also includes about 50 exhibitors.
The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is the official host venue. Other sponsors include Viking, Kamui, Omega Billiards, Cyclop, Diamond, Simonis, and Predator.
For more information, photos, or to set up interviews, contact Mary Coffman, CSI Marketing Manager at 509-308-9814 (cell); or by email at maryc@playcsipool.com.