Fresh off her 5th place finish at the WPBA Raxx Mezz Oulhausen CPBA Invitational on Long Island, NY, which elevated her two steps ahead on the WPBA’s Rankings list (from #8 to #6), 10 days ago (March 15), Kaylee McIntosh Driskell went undefeated to win the second stop on the Lucasi Ladies Tour Stop #2. The $1,000-added event drew 30 entrants to Brewlands Bar & Billiards in Lakeland, FL this past weekend, Saturday, March 21.
It began as a straight, double-elimination bracket until there were eight left, four from each side of the bracket. The winners’ side advanced the four competitors who would have played in two winners’ side semifinals. The loss side advanced the four who would have competed in the two matches that would have determined (if double-elimination had continued) who finished in the tie for 7th/8th.
Driskell advanced to Stage 2 from the winners’ side, following her opening-round victory over Lisa Anderson and 7-2 victories over both Lisa Perez and Emy Rose Decker. From the same bracket grouping, it was Sofia Mast who’d have faced Driskell in a winners’ side semifinal. Mast had opened with victories over Effie Nelson 7-3, Stephanie Mitchell 7-1 and shut out Christina Fonda to advance to Stage 2.
From the upper bracket grouping, it was Helene Caukin and Jessica Barnes who advanced to Stage 2. Caulkin had defeated Vanessa Seaver 7-5, Sandra Shea 7-2 and Natalie Doherty 7-4. Barnes had sent Sabra Beahn 7-2, Jennifer Santala 7-2 and Sierra Wonn 7-5 to the loss side.
On the loss side, Jeannie Seaver, who’d lost an opening-round, double-hill match to Natalie Doherty went on a four-match, loss-side ‘tear,’ during which she accumulated an aggregate game score of 20-5, which advanced her to Stage 2. Stephanie Mitchell joined her in advancing with three straight 5-3 victories over Sabra Beahn, Amanda Newton and Doherty.
From the loss side’s lower bracket grouping, Emy Rose Decker, with only one ‘bridge to cross,’ downed Effie Nelson 5-3 and crossed it into Stage 2. The final piece to the Final 8, Stage 2 puzzle was Arianne Horvath, who’d lost her second-round match to Doherty and chalked up a win over Tiffany Wolsifer 5-1 and two of them against Sandra Shea and Christina Fonda, both 5-3.
There were four, fairly decisive, opening-round Stage 2 victories that created the event’s Final Four. Driskell and Jeannie Seaver advanced with 6-1 victories over Stephanie Mitchell and Helene Caukin, respectively. Driskell advanced to face Sofia Mast, who’d defeated Emy Rose Decker 6-2. Jessica Barnes, who’d defeated Ariane Horvath 6-3 advanced to meet Jeannie Seaver.
Seaver punched her ticket into the final with a 6-2 victory over Barnes. The current #6 in the WPBA rankings (Kaylee McIntosh Driskell) downed #7 (Sofia Mast) 6-1 to join her. The two negotiated a split of the top two prizes, and as the undefeated occupant of the hot seat at the time, Driskell went into the books as the event’s official winner.
Tour director Mimi McAndrews thanked the ownership and staff at Brewlands Billiards for their hospitality, along with title sponsor Lucasi Cues, Cue & Case, Boynton Billiards, No Quit Apparel, Eastern Billiards, Andy Cloth, and AZ Billiards. Special thanks were extended to Deanna Laney and Sam Winters for running another smooth, well-organized tournament and to Stephanie Mitchell, whose ongoing assistance and dedication to the tour are always appreciated.
The next stop (#3) on the Lucasi Ladies Tour, scheduled for Saturday, April 25, will be hosted by Stixx Billiards in Oldmar, FL.