2006 ACS Nationals in Las Vegas

2006 ACS Nationals in Las VegasACS Shines in VegasThe American CueSports Alliance (ACS) offered a bit of everything in debuting its Nationals in Las Vegas at the Riviera Hotel & Casino, June 10-17: competition in thirty-two divisions, unveiling juniors and super-seniors divisions, inaugurating the Can-Am Snooker Challenge, showcasing the talents of 2002 Artistic Billiard World Champion Roberto Rojas and Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman, and introducing the world-standardized PAT Testing System for coaches on US soil. Members had more opportunities to play and to cash than ever before in a national amateur championship, and any free time away from a match was gobbled up with plenty of side events adding to the non-stop fun going strong for eight days in the desert!View the ACS Nationals image gallery
Gary Benson and his staff at High Country Promotions did their usually excellent job seamlessly running the entire affair on 104 Valley tables, and the ACS board of directors listened to its membership and spread the added money throughout most divisions in 2006, with total prize monies again exceeding $150,000.. In addition, those entries placing out of the money in any primary event could re-enter at no cost to vie for prize monies in the many and varied “Sports” divisions. Entries in most divisions met or exceeded numbers in the inaugural 2005 Championships in Reno. “I’ve been involved in producing fourteen national championships in Las Vegas, and this was the most fun I’ve had at any Nationals,” exclaimed ACS Executive Director John Lewis. “When people weren’t playing to their heart’s content on a daily basis or observing other sets of skills in the 3-ring circus of various cue disciplines we had set-up on the side, they seemed to be smiling or laughing non-stop. The tournament room was packed, but you didn’t feel like a sardine, and there was a true sense of family or a desire to make a new friend’s acquaintance at almost every table. Great vibes all week long!”There were hundreds of storylines in this event, but a few that stood out included Steven Lenz, a winner of the Sportsman’s division in 2005, going all the way to lay claim to the Men’s 9-Ball singles crown; Bonnie Plowman taking off another national championship – both in the Women’s Master 8-Ball Singles and in anchoring the Women’s Master Team Champions, “Greenfield’s Slightly Competitive.” Nova Scotia’s Pat Briand knocked off perennial national champion Jesse Bowman in both the 9-Ball Singles AND the Masters 8-Ball Singles…yet failed to cash himself in either! Locals representing the Las Vegas Cue Club garnered a 1st (Katy Moore), three 2nds (Trick Sixty, Julie Nogiec/Trick Sixty in scotch doubles and the team “Jerry’s”) and two 3rds (Nogiec again and the team “Las Vegas Cue Club”); while the Southern Amusement League from Virginia laid claimed to a 1st in Men’s Open 8-Ball Singles (Jack Davis), Men’s Senior 8-Ball Singles (Bill Mason) and a 2nd in Women’s Open 8-Ball Singles (Toni Barnes). The “Can’t Win” team from Illinois had to delete some Master players from its roster to qualify for the Open Team division, but reloaded with some strong Open players from its same league to capture the Men’s/Mixed Open Team crown. Canada, represented by the many leagues that sanction with the Canadian Cue Sport Association (CCS), took its usual quota of titles. Lesser-known players on the national level from both ends of the age spectrum – Minnesota’s Chad Plumley in the 18 & Under Junior Boys and Nevada’s Jonathan Hahn in the Super Seniors – made their marks for the first time, while Nick Tafoya’s dominance in the 14 & Under Boys division further brightened his star on the national horizon.The ACS Referee program continued to expand, as a full class of new ACS national referees graduated during the week. The Can-Am Snooker Challenge featured a talented Team Canada (John White, Jeff Kennedy, Odie Willet and Terry Davidson) recovering from a large deficit to beat Team USA’s finest snooker players (current national champion George Lai, Romil Azemat, Orwin Ham and Truman Wu) 11-10 in a one-frame tie-break! Team Canada’s #1 White opened up with a 50-break to eclipse Team USA’s #1 Lai in the decider. On adjoining tables could be found ACS Level 4 instructor/coaches Joseph Mejia and Roy Yamane analyzing the pool mechanics of many a player, while Mexico’s Roberto Rojas wowed the crowds with cue ball actions that defied belief on the carom table. Appreciation is due to the Embassy Club in San Gabriel, California, Strachan Snooker cloth, Stan James Online Bookmakers and Elitte Professional tables for sponsorship in making these amazing events possible all under one roof. Also special thanks to the United States Snooker Association, the Canadian Billiard & Snooker Association – two affiliate members to the ACS – and the ACS for providing the players, volunteers and referees for these events. In 2007 the ACS has made plans to expand the Nationals even further by combining its National 8-Ball Championships and National 9-Ball Championships at the same venue – the Riviera in Las Vegas – June 7-16! Again emphasizing “something for everybody,” team and singles 9-ball will be scheduled for June 7-10 and team and singles 8-ball will be scheduled for June 11-16! The ACS is a non-profit, national organization dedicated to heightening the interest and awareness of cue sports through the support and sanctioning of organized competition throughout the United States and North America. View the ACS Nationals image gallery Final Results:Men’s 9-Ball Singles128 x $65 = $8,320 + $1,500 addedTotal: $9,8201st Steven Lenz (Orange, TX) $1,5002nd Ricardo Pena (Davenport, IA) $1,1003rd Danny Allen (Lake Havasu, AZ) $8004th Scott Kitto (Cedar Rapids, IA) $6205-6th Bill Duggan (Norfolk, VA) $500 Martin Hook (Minnetonka, MN)7-8th Tim Robertson (Kelso, WA) $400 Nick Tafoya (Albuquerque, NM)9-12th Kurt Weiss (Flint, MI) $300 Dustin Gunia (Omaha, NE) Dale Fitzgerald (Mauston, WI) Mitchell Ellerman (Phoenix, AZ)13-16th Eric Moore (Virginia Beach, VA) $200 Henry Girardi (Las Vegas, NV) Tony Zierman (Burnsville, MN) James Hanne (Moline, IL)17-24th Vern Steinke (Norfolk, VA) $150 David Holmes (Clinton, IA) Christian Coffey (Halifax, NS) Frank DeCastecker (Moline, IL) Larry Wilson (Victoria, BC) Shane Johnson (Rock Island, IL) Bill Mason (Virginia Beach, VA) James Rabatin (Surprise, AZ)25-32nd Jack Davis (Virginia Beach, VA) $100 Jonathan Hahn (Gardnerville, NV) George Hammerbacher (Baltimore, MD) Rodney Flenoi (East Moline, IL) Jerry Angaran (Tampa, FL) Chris Romero (Amarillo, TX) Chisolm Woodson (Vail, CO) Thomas Hernandez (Rock Island, IL) Women’s 9-Ball Singles52 x $65 = $3,380 + $1,000 addedTotal: $4,3801st Katy Moore (Las Vegas, NV) $1,000 2nd Vickie Martin (Kansas City, MO) $7503rd June Maiers (Chaska, MN) $5304th Janet Ritcey (Halifax, NS) $3505-6th Lindsay Velasco (Richmond, VA) $250 Julie Nogiec (Las Vegas, NV)7-8th Marcia Schomburg (Virginia Beach, VA) $175 Olivia Jackson (Tucson, AZ)9-12th Ann Bellamy (Virginia Beach, VA) $125 Toni Barnes (Virginia Beach, VA) Cheryle Teats (Virginia Beach, VA) Tracey Elliott (Tucson, AZ)13-16th Carla Rossetti (Chesapeake, VA) $100 Connie Gallego (Justin, TX) Jessica Frideres (Fort Dodge, IA) Bonnie Plowman (Longmont, CO) Men’s Master 8-Ball Singles21 x $165 (+ 6 free entries thru the McDermott AA Tour) = $3,465 + $3,000 addedTotal: $6,4651st Josh Johnson (Bettendorf, IA) $2,000 2nd Trick Sixty (Las Vegas, NV) $1,5003rd Larry Wilson (Victoria, BC) $1,0004th Jeremy Smith (Calgary, AB) $7005-6th Dwayne Bjornstad (Calgary, AB) $400 Scott Kitto (Marion, IA)Men’s Master 8-Ball Singles Sports Division1st Ron Allen (Las Vegas, NV) $3002nd Charlie Robertson (New Westminster, BC) $165 Women’s Master 8-Ball Singles19 x $165 (+ 1 free entry thru the McDermott AA Tour) = $3,135 + $3,000Total: $6,1351st Bonnie Plowman (Longmont, CO) $2,0002nd Andrea Wilson Victoria, BC) $1,4003rd Julie Nogiec (Las Vegas, NV) $9004th Jessica Frideres (Fort Dodge, IA) $6005-6th Tina Larsen (Palatine, IL) $400 Jill Nagel (Papillion, NE)Women’s Master 8-Ball Singles Sports Division1st Dee McGrath (Washington, IL) $3002nd Samantha Diepp (Aurora, CO) $135 Men’s Open 8-Ball Singles183 x $115 = $21,045 + $1,500Total: $22,5451st Jack Davis (Virginia Beach, VA) $2,5002nd Dustin Gunia (Omaha, NE) $2,0003rd Rodney Flenoi (East Moline, IL) $1,5004th Shane Johnson (Rock Island, IL) $1,0005-6th Chris Machuga (Cape Coral, FL) $750 Steven Lenz (Orange, TX)7-8th James Kimmerly (Lexington, KY) $500 Kenn Bogart (Killeen, TX)9-12th Frank Hannibal (Chesapeake, VA) $400 Vern Steinke (Norfolk, VA) Eric Moore (Virginia Beach, VA) Matt VanKampen (Clinton, IA)13-16th Chisolm Woodson (Vail, CO) $325 Gregg Cairns (Calgary, AB) Mark Czerwinski (Moline, IL) Ken Welch (Eugene, OR)17-24th Robert Comegys (Grand Prairie, TX) $250 Jerrod Frideres (Fort Dodge, IA) Anthony Garcia (East Moline, IL) Gregory Baker (Chesapeake, VA) Bill Bayer (Suffolk, VA) Bruce Grover (Ft. Worth, TX) James Sinclair (Brantford, ON) Dave Selbrede (Virginia Beach, VA)25-32ndLarry Powers (Washington, IL) $200 Andrew Twitchen (Elgin, TX) Daniel Romero (Amarillo, TX) Robert Sombrerero (Cedar Hill, TX) David Holmes (Clinton, IA) Nick Bewley (Virginia Beach, VA) Randy DeMont (Dartmouth, NS) Harry Kernoodle (Norfolk, VA)Men’s Open 8-Ball Singles Sports Division1st Michael Leigh (Innisfil, ON) $4452nd Gale Gladden (Decatur, TX) $2003-4th Bill McPherson (Sydney River, NS) $100 Frank Baker ((Davenport, IA)5-8th Robert Nesbitt (Halifax, NS) $50 Bill Becker (Rome, IL) Greg Kuhl (Las Vegas, NV) Billy Payne (Pampa, TX) Women’s Open 8-Ball Singles61 x $115 = $7,015 + $1,000 addedTotal: $8,0151st Janet Ritcey (Halifax, NS) $2,000 2nd Toni Barnes (Virginia Beach, VA) $1,2503rd Wendy Ady (Inver Grove Heights, MN) $8654th Cheryl Morrell (Edelstein, IL) $5505-6th Tina Conn (Portage, IN) $350 Shawn Modelo (Antioch, CA)7-8th Teresa Frederick (Aurora, CO) $250 Samantha Patton (Richmond, KY)9-12th Olivia Jackson (Tucson, AZ) $175 Rose Malkovich (Minneapolis, MN) Stacy Rogers (Virginia Beach, VA) Mary Costello (Oak Forest, IL)13-16th Simone Huskey (Silvis, IL) $125 Mary Davis (Virginia Beach, VA) Katy Moore (Las Vegas, NV) Vickie Martin (Kansas City, MO)Women’s Open 8-Ball Singles Sports Division1st Lorraine Green (Oshweken, ON) $4002nd Amy Taguchi (Lansing, IL) $2003-4th Patricia Hajny (Milan, IL) $100 Tammie Cox (Peoria, IL)5-8th Jacki Redmon (Suffolk, VA) $50 Brenda Cannon (Oregon City, OR) Tracey Elliott (Tucson, AZ) Sonia Valentine (Huntington, MA) Men’s Standard 8-Ball Singles92 x $115 = $10,580 + $1,000 addedTotal: $11,5801st Mike Calla (Maple Ridge, BC) $2,000 2nd Mark Downey (Calgary, AB) $1,3003rd Marty Jones (Plano, TX) $8304th Juan Parra Jr. (Dallas, TX) $6505-6th Richard Closs (Toronto, ON) $500 Zack Willis (Papillion, NE)7-8th David Danylchuk (Calgary, AB) $400 Tim Jimmo (Homosassa, FL)9-12th Jimmy Peecock (Alpharetta, GA) $300 Michael Rowden (College Station, TX) Robert Reid (Barrie, ON) Paul Pritchett (Calgary, ON)13-16th Robert Vannatta (Windsor, PA) $200 Mark Jessop (Halifax, NS) Shawn Lesnick (Sydney, NS) Chris Martin (Ft. Worth, TX)17-24thJeff Cannon (Calgary, AB) $150 Dale Fitzgerald (Mauston, WI) William Holmes (Lakeside, NS) Michael Covin (Halifax, NS) Tony Metcalf (Tualatin, OR) Gary O’Connell (Vancouver, BC) Chad Oxner (Halifax, NS) Erik Otto (Lisle, IL)25-32nd Gary Babcock (Mississauga, ON) $100 Ren Roberts (Hurst, TX) Michael Rodermund (Midlothian, TX) Daniel Buchanan (Halifax, NS) Dale Richardson (Lexington, KY) Barry Elson (Maple Ridge, BC) Pat Espino (Virginia Beach, VA) Mike Christensen (Hicksville, NY) Men’s Standard 8-Ball Singles Sports Division1st T.J. Humber (Albert Bridge, NS) $4002nd Bill Linton (Toronto, ON) $2003-4th Alan Barnes (Mesquite, TX) $100 Michael Bartolacci (Atlanta, GA)5-8th Mike West (Oswego, OR) $50 Wayne Barnes (Pueblo, CO) Gary Drummond (Fall River, NS) Sean Bailey (Jacksonville, FL) Women’s Standard 8-Ball Singles48 x $115 = $5,520 + $1,000 addedTotal: $6,5201st Maria Rodriguez (Dallas, TX) $1,5002nd Kay Reimer (Joliet, IL) $1,000 3rd Lisa Kitchen (Lake Station, IN) $7004th Mary Breitenbach (Silvis, IL) $4705-6th Joey Roberts (Hurst, TX) $325 Cathy Koepke (Frankfort, IL)7-8th Faith Thompson (Morrow, GA) $250 Linda McCoy (Thonotosassa, FL)9-12th Tammy O’Meara (Silvis, IL) $175 Susie Losh (Virginia Beach, VA) Tina Miles (Suffolk, VA) Susan Leonard (Moline, IL)Women’s Standard 8-Ball Singles Sports Division1st Virginia Luchi (Pittsfield, MA) $4002nd Elisabeth Grote (Hamilton, ON) $2003-4th Marian Ferry (Colona, IL) $100 Sandra Rodermund (Midlothian, TX)5-8th Naomi Cannard (Aloha, OR) $50 Christa Cormier (Halifax, NS) Shelly Starlight (Calgary, AB) Ardilia Cross (Richton Park, IL) Men’s Senior 8-Ball Singles44 x $115 = $5,060 + $1,000Total: $6,0601st Bill Mason (Virginia Beach, VA) $1,200 2nd Clay Gergick (Overland Park, KS) $8103rd Paul Johnson (Amarillo, TX) $6004th Brad Smith (Halifax, NS) $4005-6th Jose Cruz (Ozone Park, NY) $300 Roy Skenandore (Oneida, WI)7-8th Ken Sherry (Halifax, NS) $225 Brian Trudel (Calgary, AB)9-12th David Darnell (Wheatfield, IN) $150 Stewart Hunter (Cambridge, ON) Jim Roller (Albuquerque, NM) Victor Tyynismaa (Lake Havasu, AZ)13-16th Bob Miklos (Halifax, NS) $100 Tom Fankhauser (Decatur, IL) Eddie Jackson (Peoria, IL) Bill Powell (Portage, IN)Men’s Senior 8-Ball Singles Sports Division1st Carl Sampson (Sydney, NS) $4002nd Dick Arensdorf (Lexington, KY) $2003-4th Jerry Watts (Shelbyville, KY) $100 Phil Castro (Lewisville, TX)5-8th Jim Kreikemeier (Bellevue, NE) $50 Ronnie Bulin (Silsbee, TX) Phillip Jones (Paris, KY) Glen Gardner (Calgary, AB) Women’s Senior 8-Ball Singles30 x $115 = $3,450 + $1,000 addedTotal: $4,4501st Betty Wilkerson (Odessa, TX) $1,000 2nd Sherry Griffin (Bellevue, WA) $7003rd Jean Bartholomew (Portland, OR) $5504th Kathy Hestand (Dallas, TX) $4005-6th Connie Lackey (Valparaiso, IN) $250 Gisele Maurice (Hamilton, ON)7-8th Sandy Chamberlain (Broken Arrow, OK) $150 Deborah Maness (Phoenix, AZ)Women’s Senior 8-Ball Singles Sports Division1st Lynn Green (Peoria, IL) $4002nd Frances Jensen (Calgary, AB) $2003-4th Wanda Thompson (Tulsa, OK) $100 Phyllis Powell (Portage, IN)5-8th Cheryl Russell (Lutz, FL) $50 Lee White (Peoria, AZ) Jeanne Bell (Thonotosassa, FL) Helen Hecimovich (Reno, NV) Men’s Super Senior 8-Ball Singles15 x $115 = $1,725 + $1,000 addedTotal: $2,7251st Jonathan Hahn (Gardnerville, NV) $1,0002nd Vincent Modelo (Antioch, CA) $7003rd Henry Girardi (Las Vegas, NV) $5004th Rex Swett (Lakewood, CO) $300Men’s Super Senior 8-Ball Singles Sports Division1st Madison Adkins (Winchester, KY) $1502nd Al Sibley (Las Vegas, NV) $75 Boy’s 18 & Under 8-Ball SinglesTotal: $1,000 in Savings Bonds1st Chad Plumley (Owatonna, MN) $500 Savings Bond2nd Colby Williams (Decatur, TX) $300 Savings Bond3rd Cody Brooks (Odessa, TX) $200 Savings Bond4th Phillip Barnes (Mesquite, TX) 5-6th Michael Ferguson (Virginia Beach, VA) Jordan Richard (Mission Viejo, CA)7-8th Christopher Weller (Norfolk, VA) Bryan Hougham (Aloha, OR)9-11th Kyle Riley (Aloha, OR) Brett Contreras () Ruis Romero (Albuquerque, NM) Boy’s 14 & Under 8-Ball SinglesTotal: $1,000 in Savings Bonds1st Nick Tafoya (Albuquerque, NM) $500 Savings Bond2nd Michael Perron (Mendota Heights, MN) $300 Savings Bond3rd Kevin Sun (Harvard, MA) $200 Savings Bond4th Mark Tafoya (Albuquerque, NM) 5-6th Ronald Kidd III (Tucson, AZ) Brandon Carter (Tulsa, OK)7-8th Trevor Howell (Wheat Ridge, CO) Richard Gonzales (Pueblo, CO)9-12th Cody Rosetti (Chesapeake, VA) Steven King (Norfolk, VA) Chase Plumley (Owatonna, WI) David Tujillo (Pueblo, CO)13-15h Lee Russell Blake Harmon (Tulsa, OK) Jesse Engel (Columbia Heights, MN)Scotch Doubles120 x $100 = $12,0001st Tina Larsen/ Dan Taylor (IL) $2,000 2nd Julie Nogiec/ Trick Sixty (NV) $1,3003rd Amy Foster/ David Alley (VA) $1,0004th Wendy Ady/ Doug Fahey (MN) $8005-6th Rachel Klein/ Robert Johnson (IL) $550 Katy Moore/ Greg Kuhl (NV)7-8th Andrea Wilson/ Larry Wilson (BC) $400 Ann Bellamy/ Vern Steinke (VA)9-12th Dee McGrath/ Don Neckel (IL) $300 Toni Barnes/ Tommy Sullivan (VA/NC) Teresa Frederick/ David Howell (CO) Richard White/ Jane Fujinaga (NV)13-16th Michael Hamman/ Olivia Jackson (AZ) $250 Becky Mowdy/ Tim Robertson (WA) Samantha Diepp/ Chisolm Woodson (CO) Jill Nagel/ Dustin Gunia (NE)17-24th Lynn Green/ Mike Green (IL) $200 Kelly McBride/ Ronald Hilburn (IL) Janet Ritcey/ Craig Teal (NS) Carla Rossetti/ Frank Hannibal (VA) Clare Marsh/ Zack Willis (NE) Sue Leonard/ Frank DeCastecker (IL) Virginia Luchi/ John Hook (MA) Eddie Jackson/ Jenny Freeman (IL)25-32nd Joey Roberts/ Ren Roberts (TX) $150 Sandra Rodermund/ Shane Rodermund (TX) Cheryl Morrell/ Bob McGrath (IL) Sarah Negroni/ Joshua Lilley (VA) Mary Costello/ Pat McMullan (IL) Christa Cormier/ Mark Yeo (NS) Bianca Civiok/ James Rabatin (AZ) Simone Huskey/ Ron O’Meara Sr. (IL) Women’s Master Teams7 x $475 = $3,325 + $3,000 addedTotal: $6,3251st Greenfield’s Slightly Competitive (CO) $3,000 2 nd Watcha Gonna Do (IL) $1,8253rd Las Vegas Cue Club (NV) $1,0004th Hawk Chicks (WA) $500 Men’s/Mixed Open Team79 X $225 = $17,775 + $1,500 addedTotal: $19,2751st Can’t Win (IL) $4,000 2nd Jerry’s (NV) $2,5003rd Bounty Hunters (NS) $1,5004th Green Eggs & Ham (IN) $1,0005-6th Over “8” Ed (BC) $750 Virginians (VA) 7-8th Fort Crook – Mel (NE) $600 The Gamblers (TX) 9-12th Slow Death (NM) $450 Passions Eliminators (TX) Brass Bell Bob (VA) Passion’s Players (TX)13-16th Let It Ride (NS) $350 Six Shooters (TX) Main Street Billiards I (AZ) Rack All Night (SC)17-24th American Legion Post 313 #2 (KY) $250 Bigger Badder Better (SK) Shooters (TX) Misspent Youth (OR) Opera House (WI) LTB Over The Hill (IA) Recovery Room (IL) Team Canada Eh! (AB)Men’s/Mixed Open Team Sports Division1st Greenfield’s (CO) $8752nd Main Street Billiards II (AZ) $5003-4th Corner Pocket II (TX) $300 LTB Under the 8-Ball (IA)5-8th American Legion 313 #4 (KY) $100 El Sonbaggos (BC) Backwoods Bad Boys (GA) All-In (GA) Women’s Open Team27 x $225 = $6,075 + $1,000Total: $7,0751st Ya’s Ya’s (MN) $2,000 2nd Leave It To Beaver (ON) $1,5003rd Main Street Billiards (AZ) $1,0254th Shooters (TX) $7505-6th Avenue Tap IL) $500 Mee-Ow! (IL) Women’s Open Team Sports Division1st Recovery Room Flatliners (IL) $4002nd Come Get Some “Bubble Gum” (IN) $2003-4th Untouchables (OK) $100 Enoch’s Reloaded (AZ) Men’s/Mixed Standard Teams71 x $175 = $12,425 + $1,000 addedTotal: $13,4251st Whatever (ON) $3,000 2nd MN Chipps (MN) $2,0003rd Q-Zone (BC) $1,0004th Balls of Steel (ON) $7255-6th The Rollers (ON) $550 Cereal Killers (ON)7-8th Juice Box Productions (AB) $400 Droopy Balls (GA)9-12th Playtime Dead Aim (TX) $300 Aloha Que (AB) WhoAreWe? (LA) Al’s Alternators (FL)13-16th Jim’s Club 19 #1 (FL) $250 Zang!!! (AB) No Excuses (GA) Last Chance (TX)17-24th Almon Army (NS) $200 Fubar (AB) 2C3B’s (FL) BB Veterans (TX) Diamond Gang (TX) Thugs N’ Jugs (BC) Shot Spot (WI) A Few Good Men (ON)Men’s/Mixed Standard Teams Sports Division1st Ocean’s 8 (NY) $5002nd Steel Curtain (NV) $3003-4th Bar None (NY) $100 Flying Sticks (FL) Women’s Standard Teams18 x $175 = $3,150 + $1,000 addedTotal: $4,1501st LTB BLT’s (IL) &nb

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