Features

Breaking News: U.S. Amateur Championship to Return to Atlanta in ‘07

The APA is proud to announce that Mr. Cues II has been selected to once again host the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2007.  Players and APA staff alike have raved about Mr. Cues II and the convenience of getting to the Atlanta area.  “Mr. Cues II is a first class pool hall, with a first class staff, and we’re happy to announce that the U.S. Amateur Championship will be returning here again next year,” said APA Director of Tournament Productions Teresa Gooch.

Local Player Looking for Victory on Home Turf

Most of the local players at Mr. Cues II know Betty Session’s face, but the rest of the top players in the country are quickly getting to know her as well.  Sessions, from right here in the Atlanta area, is a fixture at Mr. Cues II, competing in her local APA League and local tournaments.  After a first round bye in this year’s tournament, Sessions dropped her first “official” match to Tracy Inman of New Brighton, Pa.  But since dropping that match, she’s gone on to reel off five victories in a row, including her latest win – a victorious rematch against Inman.

"I've known Betty for years and she is a fierce competitior.  She can go as far as she wants to and is always fun to watch.  We're very proud of Betty here in Atlanta," said Atlanta APA League Operator and U.S. Amateur Championship referee Woody McClue.

Next up for Sessions is the winner of the match between Elizabeth Zingale of Tallahassee, Fla., and Kim Malone of Avon, Ind.

Ray a Fixture at U.S. Amateur Championship

No one is quite sure how many U.S. Amateur Championship matches Mickey Ray of Brandon, Miss., has under his belt, but you can bet it’s close to a record.  With the exception of the year 2000, Ray has been a participant in twelve U.S. Amateur Championship competitions.  He’s followed the event from Las Vegas, to Laurel, to Hartford and now here to Atlanta.  Ray, a former APA League Operator in Mississippi, has finished as high as 4th Place twice in this event.  Ray dropped his first match in this year’s competition, then went on to win three, before finally being eliminated by Sean Sporleder of Woodbridge, Va.

Bama Well Represented on Final Day

Four players from the state of Alabama were still alive and well in the winner’s bracket when play began early Sunday morning.  Robert Hall of Huntsville, Tim Orange of Birmingham, Wai Pang of Montgomery and Richard Andrews of Harvest, Ala., all survived the first two days of competition undefeated.  Andrews and Orange met in their first match Sunday with Andrews winning 7-6.  Pang lost his match to Jon James Jr. of Pelham, N.H., 7-3.  Orange and Pang move to the one-loss bracket.  Hall emerged from the early round unscathed as well, beating Chad Dailey of E. Palestine, Ohio, 7-3.

Defending Champs Compete in U.S. Open Pro Championships

After winning last year’s U.S. Amateur Championship, both Pete Genovese and Karen Armstrong moved on to compete in a pro event in 2006. 

For Genovese, that meant an appearance at the U.S. Open 9-Ball Men’s Championship held Sept. 25 – Oct. 2 in Chesapeake, Va.  Genovese lost in the 1st Round to fellow U.S. Amateur Championship participant Brian Parks.  He rebounded to win his next two matches, recording victories over Michael Wong and Timmy Hall.  Genovese was eliminated in his fourth match by Joey Korsiak.

Armstrong competed in the WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship held Oct. 18 - 22 in Albuquerque, N.M.  Armstrong lost her first match to Hsin Huang, then came back to defeat Gail Grecar in her second.  Armstrong was eliminated from the event by Julie Kelly in her third match.

WPBA Player Sightings

Touring professional players Monica Webb, Helena Thornfeldt and Alice Rim stopped by Mr. Cues II on Friday evening during the U.S. Amateur Championship.  All three can be seen competing regularly on the WPBA Classic Tour.  Were they checking out their future competition or just hanging out?  The players regularly practice at Mr. Cues II and Rim offers instructional lessons.  Top men’s pro player Johnny Archer is the house pro and can often be seen perfecting his game at Mr. Cues II.

Brackets Filled With Former Champs

This year’s U.S. Amateur Championship field has no shortage of talented players.  Five former U.S. Amateur Champions are competing in this year’s competition.  In the Women’s Division, Tina Larsen ('03) of Palatine, Ill., and last year’s champion, Karen Armstrong of Bear, Del., are looking to become the first two-time U.S. Amateur Women’s Champion.  The two squared off in the 1st Round.

On the Men’s side, three former champions are competing, including Robert Hall (’01) of Huntsville, Ala., Bruce Choyce (’03) of Orlando, Fla., and Henry Brodt (’98 & ’99) of Glenview, Ill.  Defending champion Pete Genovese of New Britain, Conn., was a last minute withdrawal from the tournament for personal reasons.

Other favorites include last year’s Runner-up in the Women’s Division Amy Poulter of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and 2006 APA 9-Ball Shootout Champion Brian Parks of Bakersfield, Calif.

U.S. Amateur Championship Returns to Mr. Cues II

Only have a handful of the nation’s top pool rooms have ever been selected to host the U.S. Amateur Championship.  For the second consecutive year Mr. Cues II in Atlanta, Ga., was chosen to host this prestigious event. Twenty 9-ft and 18 8-ft Kim steel tables are lined row after row in this classic pool hall which also features a 1923 Thurston English 12-ft snooker table.

Mr. Cues II offers a restaurant and full-bar, in addition to a pro shop. The location has hosted its share of well known billiard stars including Jeanette Lee, Allison Fisher and many of the top players on the WPBA tour. Men’s top pro player Johnny Archer is the resident house pro. Mr. Cues II hosts over 100 APA pool league teams and hosts in-house tournaments.

To learn more about Mr. Cues II, visit them online at www.mrcues2.net.

U.S. Amateur Championship Begins

The 13th Annual U.S. Amateur Championship began Friday afternoon at Mr. Cues II in Atlanta, Ga.  This year 128 men and 27 women are competing for the titles of U.S. Amateur Champion.  Twelve states are represented in the Women's Division and 27 states are represented in the Men's Division  The winner of each division will advance to a pro tournament in 2007.

© 2006, American Poolplayers Association