Changes Announced for US Amateurs

APA ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPPrestigious Amateur Championship to Change Venue and Add Womens DivisionLAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO (February 17, 2003) - The nation's most prestigiousamateur billiard event-the U.S. Amateur Championship-will take place thisyear at Ultimate Billiards in Berlin, Conn., Nov. 7-9. The championship washeld the past three years at Champion Billiards in Laurel, Md."We are very excited to host the U.S. Amateur Championship at Ultimate Billiards. Champion Billiards was an outstanding location for the event thepast few years, and we believe Ultimate Billiards will also be a greatsite," said Teresa Gooch, APA Director of Tournament Productions. In addition to the change in venue, the APA will also add a Womens Division to the U.S. Amateur Championship beginning in 2003. The event will feature16 of the nation's top women amateurs competing for a shot at the U.S.Amateur Championship and paid travel, lodging and entry into a 2004 WPBA Classic Tour event. The winner in the 128-player Mens Division will receive paid travel, lodgingand entry into the 2004 U.S. Open Pro Event. Both champions willautomatically return to the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2004 to defend their titles.
This tournament is the only non-handicapped national tournament sanctionedby the APA that is open to both members and non-members alike. Preliminary Rounds for the U.S. Amateur Championship are scheduled for Sept. 20-21.U.S. Amateur Championship participants compete in a double elimination tournament, race-to-7, with a maximum of five games of 8-Ball and eight games of 9-Ball. once the field is narrowed to the top two competitors, the final match becomes a single elimination race-to-11 with up to 13 games of 9-Ball and eight games of 8-Ball.The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world's largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the UnitedStates, and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. More than 215,000members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9Ball league play.Michelob AmberBock is the official beer of the APA and sponsor of the APA8-Ball League and 8-Ball National Team Championships. The Diamond SmartTable, Simonis 860 billiard cloth, Super Aramith billiard balls, the SardoTight Rack and the Billiard Club Network (BCn) are also official billiard industry sponsors of the APA and APA National Championships.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. one of the keys to the successof the APA league, administered by local League Operators, is TheEqualizer*, the handicap and scoring system that makes it possible for menand women of different playing abilities-especially beginners-to compete onan equal basis, much like they do in golf and bowling.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!Visit InsidePOOL for the latest from the sport of billiards and pool.

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