by InsidePOOL Staff

The room was filled players and spectators as the Flamingo Billiards Tour Qualifier got underway April 28 at Cue-Phoria Billiards and Café in Winter Park, FL. Twenty-four of the top women competitors from around the state came to play in the $250-added event, but it was Chris Fields who topped them all.

The format was a modified double elimination, playing down to the final eight, with a redraw occurring at that point. In the redraw, Kira Brown drew Nicolle Cuellar, who won hill-hill. Mimi McAndrews matched up against Crystal McCormick but couldn’t get in stroke, with McCormick easily taking the match. Jeannie Seaver ended the day for Kim Richeson, and Fields won a tough match over Shanelle Loraine, who has been playing a much improved game this year.

The semifinals matched Cuellar against McCormick, but McCormick seemed to be having stamina problems on this night, and Cuellar took advantage, making it to the finals by winning 7-2. Fields, who had never won a match against Seaver, the favorite to win the event, beat the odds and won the match 7-5.

With the momentum going her way, Fields was not going to stop at this point. She played strong and won her first Flamingo Billiards Tour event over Cuellar 7-2. Not too disappointed, Cuellar took home the qualifier.

Results:
1st Chris Fields $370
2nd Nicolle Cuellar $250
3rd Crystal McCormick $125
Jeannie Seaver
5th Kira Brown $75
Shanelle Loraine
7th Mimi McAndrews $75
Kim Richeson