U.S. Amateur Championship - Women's Division

Betty Sessions: 2009 U.S. Amateur Champion

From left to right: Michelle Monk-3rd Place, Betty Session-Champion, Mary Rakin-Runner-up

A less experienced player might have folded under the pressure, but she’d been there before. After finishing in 3rd Place twice, and as Runner-up two years ago, Betty Sessions knew she still controlled her own destiny.

After stumbling in a 5-1 loss to Mary Rakin two rounds earlier, Sessions had a chance to avenge the loss. She advanced to the final round after a close 5-4 win over Michell Monk.

In the finals, Rakin won the lag and opted to begin the match in the 9-Ball set, something Sessions tries to avoid if possible.

"If I win the lag, I always start in the 8-Ball set. I'm stronger in 9-Ball, but whenever I opt to start in 9-Ball, I seem to lose for some reason," said Sessions.

She continued to be strong in the 9-Ball set, jumping out to an early 3-1 lead before Rakin could win her first game. The players traded victories in the next two games, and then Sessions rattled off four straight wins. Rakin closed out the 9-Ball set with a win, but trailed 8-3.

On-the-hill to begin the 8-Ball set, Sessions decided her three year wait was long enough, and she closed out the match 9-3, to take home her 1st U.S. Amateur Championship.

She moves on to compete in the WPBA’s U.S. Open next year. Rakin finishes at the Runner-up after an impressive performance in her first U.S. Amateur Championship competition.

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