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Features
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Finals Set in the Women’s Division
Lone Unbeatens Set for Showdown Henry Brodt |
 Robert Hall |
Former Champion Interviews: Hall and Brodt
Former champions Robert Hall (’01) and Henry Brodt (’98-’99) are truly fixtures at the U.S. Amateur Championship. Hall has competed in every U.S. Amateur Championship since 1996, while Brodt has been participating since 1997. They are well known, and well respected amongst U.S. Amateur Championship veterans. We sat down with both players to discuss their experiences at this tournament over the years.
APA: In your opinion, how has this event changed over the years?
Brodt: The ability has gotten better. In the past, maybe 12-13 players were really good, but now you have 32-40 players that are just outstanding players.
APA: So you feel the level of competition has gotten better?
Brodt: (Laughter) Yeah, because I don’t want to think I’m getting worse with age!
Hall: Yes, the competition has gotten a lot tougher.
APA: Why do you think the level of competition has improved at this event?
Hall: The tournament has gotten a lot bigger. You have 1,500-1,600 player trying to qualify for the event now, so it makes the field that much tougher.
APA: What motivates you to come back year after year?
Hall: I like to compete, I like to win. To get out there and play the best. To try as hard as I can, and when I don’t win it’s that much more drive to come back next year and win again.
Brodt: The APA selects a nice pool room with nice tables. It’s a level playing field with good competition. The location is great.
APA: Robert, what’s the ultimate objective for you?
Hall: The goal I set long ago was to win the U.S. Amateur Championship and to win the Singles Championship, and I accomplished both of those goals. Now it’s just a matter of wanting to win again b/c the feeling is just unbelievable. Last year I finished 2nd, it wasn’t such a good feeling. Even though I finished great in the tournament, if you had asked me going in if I’d be happy w/ 2nd I’d have said yes, but finishing 2nd sucks!
APA: Henry, with no money involved, what brings you back?
Brodt: It’s just a love of the game, wanting to be No. 1.
APA: Robert, it’s been 7 years since you won the U.S. Amateur Championship, reflect back on that experience?
Hall: I don’t think I played as well back then as I do now, and in some ways, I think I got a little lucky from time to time. But I also think you have to get lucky sometimes in the tournament to win it all.
APA: Henry, looking back on your first title in 1998, how the event has changed, what goes thru your mind?
Brodt: Surprise that I won it!
APA: So when you look back on the back-to-back championships, is that a significant accomplishment in your eyes?
Brodt: I’m glad I won twice in a row, but I felt more confident in the first tournament. The second time around, there were a few matches were I just about unscrewed my stick and put it away because I thought for sure I was done. I had to go through the loser’s bracket, and there were some matches were my opponent just missed some crucial shots. So the second title was luckier than the first.
APA: Do you feel like luck factors in?
Brodt: It might not be luck as much as pressure. I think I handle pressure much better with age. I play the table now, not my opponent.
APA: Robert, how is it to go up against an opponent you may not know, but has some familiarity with you and your reputation as a former champion? Is it an advantage or disadvantage.
Hall: I think from time to time there may be some advantage, but I don’t look at that going in to a match. I’m just another player, if I play my best I win, if I don’t, I lose.
APA: Henry what do you think?
Brodt: It depends on the opponent. I think with some they play better, and up their game.
APA: Robert what is it like to go against someone you’re familiar with? Someone like Henry?
Hall: I try not to focus on who I’m playing. I try to play smart, play my best. And if I’m playing good, I feel I’m going come out on top more times than not.
APA: How about for you Henry?
Brodt: Not as much a factor anymore for me. All I think about now is I hope I don’t miss, not so much what my opponent does.
APA: Do you have any special preparation going into this tournament or a big tournament?
Brodt: I practice my break a little bit more. I do a little more straight in stroking. Win or lose, I just try and enjoy the game and not get nervous. If I lose ok, but i just don’t want to play nervous.
APA: Of the four cities that have hosted the U.S. Amateur Championship, which city or venue did you enjoy the most?
Hall: I like it here at Mr. Cues II. Maryland is probably always gonna be No. 1 in my mind because that’s where I won it aall, but I really like it here.
Brodt: I like it on the East Coast. When it’s on the East Coast I can bring my wife because she likes the East Coast!
U.S. Amateur Championship a Family Affair
Over the years we ’ ve had lots of family members qualify for the U.S. Amateur Championship – brother s , husbands and wives, even a father and daughter ! This year is no exception. Brothers Alan and Daniel Gambill of Hickory, N.C., both qualified for the tournament for the second consecutive year. The husband and wife duo of Michael and Elizabeth Zingale of Tallahassee, Fla., are also back to compete at the event once again.
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Larsen and Richko Look to Repeat
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It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since U.S. Amateur Championship veteran Henry Brodt of Glenview, Ill., won the first of what would be back-to-back U.S. Amateur Championships. At the time, the feat had only been accomplished once, by Richard Ross in 1995 and 1996.
This year defending champions Jason Richko of Trinity, Fla., and Tina Larsen of Palentine, Ill., will both be looking to make a little history of their own by repeating as champions. Last year Larsen became the first woman to win the U.S. Amateur Championship, securing her first title in 2003.
If either champion is to repeat, they’ll have plenty of tough competition standing in their way. In addition to Brodt, former champion Robert Hall (2001) of Huntsville, Ala., highlight a field of 128 in the Men’s Division. In the Women’s Division, Larsen toughest competition may come from 2007 Runner-up, and hometown favorite Betty Sessions.
Familiar Surroundings
For the fourth consecutive year, Mr. Cues II in Atlanta has been selected to host the nation’s most prestigious amateur tournament. Only a handful of the nation’s top pool rooms have ever been selected to host the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Mr. Cues II houses 20 9-ft and 18 8-ft Kim steel tables as well as a 1923 Thurston English 12-ft snooker table.
The location also 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.
Sunshine State Well Represented
Maybe it’s the close proximity to Atlanta, or the fact that it boasts the most APA League activity, but the state of Florida has the most representation at the U.S. Amateur Championship this year.
In the Women’s Division, 17 states are represented, with the state of Florida sending three participants. California and North Carolina also have three participants in the Women’s Division.
In the Men’s Division, 17 competitors hail from the Sunshine State, with North Carolina a close second with 15 participants. Twenty-eight states are represented in the Men’s Division and one Canadian province.
Top 5 States By Participants:
Florida – 20
North Carolina – 18
South Carolina – 10
California – 9
New York - 9
Coincidently, the state with the most individual champions is Florida with three (Choyce ’03, Monk ’06, Richko ’07). The state with the most total champions is Illinois with four (Brodt – ’98,’99 and Larsen ’03 and ’07)
The competition is relentless...