Apa Members Take Home $300,000 In Cash And Prizes

More than $300,000 in cash and prizes was awarded to APA members at the APA National Singles Championships held April 22-24 in Las Vegas at the Riviera Hotel & Casino. The National Singles Championships consisted of both the 8-Ball Classic and 9-Ball Shootout Singles Championships and the Jack & Jill Doubles Championship.

The final round of the 9-Ball Shootout featured three championship matches, one for each skill level tier, with two shooters in each match competing for $10,000 in cash and prizes. The finals of the Green Tier (Skill Levels 1, 2 & 3) pitted Linda Huynh of Norton, Mass., versus Melissa Rispoli of Huntersville, N.C. Huynh took the match 25-22 for the championship. Rispoli advanced to the finals after a semifinal round victory over Angela Griffin of South Bend, Ind. Huynh advanced to the finals after defeating Tara Brennan of Franklin Lakes, N.J.

"She was a very good shot. I just tried to remain calm and do my best. It was such a challenge just to get here," said Huynh after being presented with her trophy and check.

Jerry Eggleston Jr. of Cocoa, Fla., defeated Linda Harris of Chester, Pa., 31-13 in the finals of the White Tier (Skill Levels 4 & 5) for the championship. Eggleston Jr. defeated Julie Perkins of Oklahoma City in the semifinal round to advance to the finals. Harris advanced to the finals by defeating Joseph Warfel III of Midlothian, Va.

"I'm just in shock. The finals were kind of a blur. I just tried to remain calm. Everyone I played this week was great and I'd like to thank the APA for running such an amazing event," said Eggleston Jr.

The finals of the Black Tier (Skill Levels 6, 7, 8 & 9) featured Brian Parks of Bakersfield, Calif., against Zach Larrimore of Chestertown, Md. Parks defeated Larrimore 75-28. Larrimore advanced to the finals after defeating Francis Campbell of N. Versailles, Pa., in the semifinals. Parks advanced to the final round match after a victory over former champion Richard Schmiegel of Saginaw, Mich., in the semifinal match of the Black Tier.

"This is my first year here, and it's been amazing. I actually lost my first match (in the tournament), but my biggest challenge was playing Richard Schmiegel in the semifinals," said Parks.

Each of the three Champions received a prize package worth $10,000. Runners-Up in each tier took home a prize package worth $5,000.

More than 12,000 amateur shooters attempted to qualify for the 2005 APA 9-Ball Shootout Singles Championship in their local league area. More than 1,500 poolplayers made it to the regional level of the 9-Ball Shootout before the field was whittled down to 120 men and women competing for 9-Ball crowns in each of three skill level tiers.

More than 40,000 shooters attempted to qualify for the 2005 8-Ball Classic. More than 5,000 poolplayers made it to the regional level before the field was narrowed to 347 men and women competing for 8-Ball crowns in each of three skill level tiers.

In the finals of the 8-Ball Classic, three champions each took home a prize package worth $15,000 for their performances.

In the Blue Tier (Skill Levels 2 & 3) of the 8-Ball Classic, it was Joey Jordan of Tallahassee, Fla., defeating Tony Ajetunmobi of New York, 3-1 in the final match. Jordan defeated Kathy Kainz of Covina, Calif., in the semifinals to advance, while Ajetunmobi defeated Karen De Coste of Londonderry, N.H.

"My goal was just not to go two and out of the tournament; this feels awesome," said Jordan, who lost her first match of the tournament.

The finals of the Yellow Tier (Skill Levels 4 & 5), saw Timothy Baker of Conway, Ark., defeat Teresa Manning of Friedens, Pa., 5-1 in the finals. Baker advanced to the finals by defeating Daniel Tobin of Peoria, Ill., earlier in the day in the semifinal round. Manning defeated Timothy De Leo of Yale, Mich., in the semifinals.

"The pressure got to me a little bit, but I pulled through and played good when I needed to. I had a lot of friends and family here pulling for me," said Baker.

The finals of the Purple Tier (Skill Levels 6 & 7) pitted Zane Edgens of Gurnee, Ill., against Kenneth Brisbon of Oxford, Mich. Edgens defeated Brisbon in the finals 4-2. Brisbon defeated Scott Morgan of Peoria, Ill., in the semifinal round. Edgens advanced after defeating Rick Halls Jr. of Danville, Ill.

"This is unbelievable. I played the best pool of my life. That guy (Brisbon) was way better than me, but I just played great in that match. The pressure was tough, but thankfully I'd played several matches where the pressure was high," said Edgens.

First place winners received cash and prizes worth $15,000. Each Runner-Up received cash and prizes worth $9,000.

In the annual Jack & Jill Doubles Championship, held in the MiniMania Room during the Singles Championships, Cody Segura and Virginia Decoux of Erath, La., defeated Tina Carrigan and Rodney Wallace of Peoria, Ill. Segura and Decoux took home $5,000, while Carrigan and Wallace received $3,000 as Runners-Up.

Sportsmanship Awards were presented to Tanya Brown of Monrovia, Ca., and Mike Miller of Marcus Hook, Pa., for their outstanding conduct throughout their matches in the 9-Ball Shootout and 8-Ball Classic, respectively.

The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world's largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States, and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. More than 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9-Ball league play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.

The APA produces three major tournaments each year�the APA National Team Championships, the APA National Singles Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship�that, together, pay out more than $1 Million in cash and prizes annually! The championships are sponsored by Michelob AmberBock, the official beer of the APA, Cuetec Cues, Aramith Billiard Balls and Valley Tables.

For more information on the National Singles Championships, visit the official APA Web site at poolplayers.com. or call 1-800-3-RACK-EM.

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