Down 6-1 in the finals, Ernesto Bayaua of Houston, Texas, mounted an improbable come back to defeat former U.S. Amateur Champion Ron Park of Charlotte, N.C., 11-9. Bayaua takes home the coveted U.S. Amateur Championship title in only his first competition.
Park, the winner of the inaugural U.S. Amateur Championship competition in 1994, finished as the Runner-up.
In 3rd Place was David Uwate of Miami, Fla. In 4th Place was Will Haagensen of Mobile, Ala. Tied for 5th Place were Criegh Dumo of Bonney Lake, Wash., and Pete Ziemak of Windsor Locks, Conn.
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Champion - Ernesto Bayaua of Houston, TX
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Runner-Up - Ron Park of Charlotte, NC
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3rd Place - David Uwate of Miami, FL
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4th Place - Will Haagensen of Mobile, AL
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5th Place - Criegh Dumo of Bonney Lake, WA
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5th Place - Pete Ziemak of Windsor Locks, CT
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Finals of the Men’s Division Set
Ron Park of Charlotte, N.C., and Ernesto Bayaua of Houston will meet in the final round of the 2011 U.S. Amateur Championship. Bayaua defeated David Uwate of Miami 7-5 to advance to the final round in the one-loss bracket. The winner of the finals will advance to the 2012 U.S. Open.
Smith Wins Women’s Division
Suzanne Smith of Edgewood, Wash., is the 2011 U.S. Amateur Champion in the Women’s Division.
Smith defeated local favorite Jamie Toennies of Largo, Fla., 9-5 in the finals. Smith went undefeated throughout the tournament while Toennies’ only two losses were to the new champion. Smith now advances to the 2012 WPBA U.S. Open, while Toennies finishes with a strong Runner-up performance in her first U.S. Amateur Championship tournament.
Finishing in 3rd Place was Lenore McCarthy of Bolingbrook, Ill.
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Champion - Suzanne Smith of Edgewood, WA
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2nd Place - Jamie Toennies of Largo, FL
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3rd Place - Lenore McCarthy of Bolingbrook, IL
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Park Returns to Finals After 17 Years
A lot has changed at the U.S. Amateur Championship over the past 18 years including venues, champions and the overall level of competition. With all the changes, Ron Park of Charlotte, N.C., still managed to find his way back to the finals of the U.S. Amateur Championship. Seventeen years ago, Park was the winner of the inaugural U.S. Amateur Championship held in Cleveland, Ohio.
“The tournament was tough back then, but I’d have to say it’s even harder now,” said Park as he awaited his opponent in the finals and joked about many of the other changes in the world since 1994 - like the "use of computers at the tournament."
Park defeated David Uwate of Miami, Fla., 7-3 to advance to the final round in the winner’s bracket. Park will play the winner between Uwate and Ernesto Bayaua of Houston.
Finals of Women’s Division Set
The finals of the Women’s Division are set. Suzanne Smith of Edgewood, Wash., will square-off against local favorite Jamie Toennies of Largo, Fla. Toennies defeated Lenore McCarthy of Bolingbrook, Ill., 5-4 to setup a rematch against Smith who had previously sent her to the one-loss bracket with 5-3 win. The ladies finals will begin at 3pm (EST) with the winner advancing to the 2012 WPBA U.S. Open.
Defending Champion Eliminated
There will be no back-to-back champions at this year’s U.S. Amateur Championship. Defending Men’s Champion Raymond Linares of Miami was eliminated late Saturday night by Prescott Buckwold of Vero Beach, Fla., 7-4.
Linares cruised in his opening match, winning 7-3 over Stewart Warnock of Valley Cottage, N.Y. After nearly narrowly getting past Frank Rice of San Dimas, Calif., 7-6, in his second match, Linares was sent to the one-lose bracket by David Uwate also from Miami.
Amy Chen, defending champion in the Women’s Division, was ruled ineligible after forgoing her amateur status to pursue full-time status on the WPBA tour.
Book of Memories
It began with Allison Fisher and continues on with each tournament she plays. So if you happen to run into Suzanne Smith of Edgewood, Wash., in a tournament, don’t be surprised if she strikes up a conversation with you, and kindly asks you to sign her book.
What may have begun as a bit of memorabilia, quickly became much more about memories. After all, its pages contain so much more than just the autographs of nearly every tournament participant she encounters along her way. Match notes, statistics, a treasure trove of tournament memories.
The collection of memories also serves as the ultimate “social networking” tool. “It’s really about meeting people, it gives me the chance to interact with everyone in the tournament,” said Smith.
And meet she does, meticulously seeking out each and every participant to offer both interaction and respect, and requesting their signature.
While most everyone is happy to oblige, some would rather not.
“There’s definitely some people that would rather not, so I’ve created a “do not ask list,” Smith added with a smile.
For those not yet on the list, expect to be greeted with a smile, a handshake and a pen if Suzanne Smith’s name is on your tournament bracket!
A Class of Their Own
This year’s U.S. Amateur Championship field is highlighted by eight former champions. In the Men’s Division, the list includes two-time champion Henry Brodt (‘98 & ‘99) of Glenview, Ill., Bruce Choyce (‘03) of Santee, Calif., Travis Gunn (’08) of Waco, Texas, Brian Parks (’09) of Bakersfield, Calif., Jason Richko (’07) of Trinity, Fla., Ron Park (’94) of Charlotte, N.C. and defending champion Raymond Linares of Miami. In the Women’s Division, the lone returning champ is Betty Lea (formely Sessions ‘09) of Conyers, Ga.
Inside Pool Magazine Provides Live Streaming of the U.S. Amateur Championship
For the first time ever, the U.S. Amateur Championship is being streamed live across the internet, courtesy of longtime billiard insider and Inside Pool magazine publisher JR Calvert!
Familiar Surroundings with a Change in Scenery
The U.S. Amateur Championship returns to the Tampa Bay area for the third consecutive year, but with a change in venue, well, two venues to be exact. This year's competition is being held at Strokers – Palm Harbor and the Crooked Cue in Clearwater. The change in venue was necessary following the unexpected closer of Strokers – Tampa earlier this year. The Men's Division will compete on the 14 9-ft tables available at Strokers – Palm Harbor, while the Women's Division will begin play on the Crooked Cue's 11 9-ft tables, before moving over to Stroker's for the final day of competition on Sunday.
U.S. Amateur Championship Returns to tampa area
event takes place nov. 4-6
The 2011 U.S. Amateur Championship, produced and conducted by the APA, will once again be held in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Following the closure of Strokers – Tampa earlier this year, the APA has relocated the event to Strokers – Palm Harbor and Crooked Cue just down the road in Clearwater, Fla. The two locations are approximately 10 miles apart on Hwy. 19. MainSail Suites in Tampa will again be the host hotel. Transportation to and from MainSail Suites to each location will be provided complimentary by the APA.
“We’re happy to be able to keep this event in the Tampa Bay area. We received overwhelming feedback last year from the players that they enjoyed the host hotel and the Tampa area in general. While we were sorry to see Strokers close, we’re excited to work with both Strokers – Palm Harbor and the Crooked Cue to host another great U.S. Amateur Championship in that area,” said Bill Tufts, APA National Tournament Director.
Strokers – Palm Harbor will host the Men’s Division Nov. 4 – 6. Crooked Cue will host the opening day of competition in the Women’s Division on Nov. 5, before the ladies join the men at Strokers – Palm Harbor on Sun., Nov. 6 for the final rounds. Complimentary transportation will also be provided by the APA between Strokers – Palm Harbor and Crooked Cue to allow players access to practice tables.
