Nicole Keeney Wins Another WPBA Qualifier!

[CherryBomb]

The fourth stop of the AWBT (Arizona Women’s Billiard Tour) took place
this weekend at Kolby’s Corner Pocket in Tempe, Arizona. Presented by
J. Pechauer Custom Cues, this $500 added event included a paid WPBA
Qualifier for the Carolina Classic event held September 10th to 14th.
Eight players returned for Sunday matches. It was an out-of-towner mix-
up on the A side with local star, Kathleen Lawless and Colorado’s up-
and-comer, Nicole Keeney matching up while Keeney’s hometown cohort,
Samm “Cherry Bomb” Diep and Michelle “Samurai” Abernathy from Texas
battled it out. Colorado would prevail as travel buddies Keeney and
Diep came out ahead to meet up for the driver’s seat match. Both
players struggled but ultimately, after a fatal missed 9 ball by Diep,
the score was tied 4-4. The momentum had shifted and Keeney would
capture the A side.
On the B side, WPBA veteran Susan “Mad Hatter” Mello took a loss from
local champ Nina Tagley and Liz Bernreuter took down Trinh Lu, leaving
Lu and Mello with tied for 7/8th place finishes. Lawless then defeated
Bernreuter 7-0 while Tagley eliminated Abernathy. Tagley went on a
tear, leaving Lawless with a fourth place finish and after a back and
fourth battle with Diep, ultimately coming out ahead with a 7-5
victory.
With Diep knocked out, 20-year-old Keeney secured herself the WPBA
Qualifier. Entering the finals, Tagley continued her hot streak,
leading 3-1 right out of the gate. Though Keeney already had the WPBA
prize in hand, she still fought hard but in the end came up short,
losing both sets 7-3. An extra $100 goes to Tagley but the Keeney goes
to North Carolina.
Place Name $ Received
1st Nina Tagley $300
2nd Nicole Keeney $200 + WPBA Qualifier paid spot for the Carolina
Classic
3rd Samm Diep $140
4th Kathleen Lawless $100
5/6th Michelle Abernathy $60
Liz Bernreuter $60
7/8th Trinh Lu $40
Susan Mello $40
9-12th Dawn Anderson $25
Ashea Erdahl $25
Terri Johnson-McCauley $25
Sara Miller $25