Taylor Wilson

Straight Pool Champion!

It seems that the word “undefeated” is getting to be a household word within the Arkansas State Pool Championship tournaments as Taylor Wilson did his thing in Russellville this past Saturday to capture the title.  He did put on quiet an exhibition with those young eyes and that exceptionally smooth stroke.  With all that going on for him as well as his very patient girlfriend, Beth at his side throughout the day, how could he lose?  Congratulations Taylor!  We’re all anxious to see just how far you can go!

Second place went to one the toughest old road warriors in the state, Dan Briggs.  I hope he does not mind me using the word “old” but at his age he demonstrates a tremendous amount of stamina and a concentration level that is incredible!  I know it’s just another day in the pool hall for Dan, but he IS a pleasure to watch in action.  Congratulations to Dan for an impressive 2^nd place victory!

 Third went to another warrior, who when gets into the “zone” is almost impossible to stop.  That would be my friend Greg Vardaman.  Were it not for Dan putting a couple of “high runs” together while playing Greg, it might have been a very different outcome.  Nevertheless, he is to be congratulated for another top-notch day of pool playing and the Third place plaque and cash!  Way to go, Greg.

Speaking of high runs, I should mention that John James donates some kind of pocketknife to most of our Championship tournaments.  This time he donated two….one for the high run, which by the way has gone to Dan Briggs for two years in a row, and one for the player that was unfortunate enough to be playing against that person.  Well, congratulations to Greg Vardaman for that lucky draw….I think.  Sometimes John just says things like whoever gets 13^th place gets the prize.  It makes for a lot of fun.  I just hope nobody throws off to win a nice knife.  J  Anyway, Thanks to Big John, not just for this, but also for being one of the APPA’s most dedicated members ever!

So, all the State Championship tournaments are over for this year and it has been GREAT!  Thanks to everyone who competed.  In my view you are ALL winners!  And don’t forget, we do have one more tournament this year, although it is not a State Championship tournament.  Just one of the most FUN tournaments we have.  That would be a Scotch Doubles at JC’s in Benton just two days after Christmas, December 27^th starting at 1pm.  I hope everyone can make it.

I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas & and a Most Prosperous New Year…… as always… 

Keep On Keepin’ On,

Bob Reed
APPA President

Taylor Wilson - 1st Place	Dan Briggs - 2nd Place

Greg Vardaman - 3rd Place

STRAIGHT POOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

BEEZER'S FINE BILLIARDS, RUSSELLVILLE, AR  *  DECEMBER 13, 2008

Russell Smith

State One Pocket Champion!

The story for the Arkansas State One Pocket Championship is short and sweet.  Russell Smith came to the tournament, entered and won the tournament.  Undefeated, I might add.  Russell taught me about the game some years ago, but he must not have told me all his secrets.  He played absolutely brilliant all day long and definitely deserves the cash, the plaque and most important the title of State Champion!  Congratulations Russell on a job well done.

Second place went to none other than Big John James.  I’m telling you, the longer that guy plays pool, the stronger he gets.  I can testify to it personally because I had him down two to nothing in a race to three and his persistency, straight shooting and his will to win just refused to allow him to lose.  He won the next three in a row!  Congrats again to John.

Yours truly did get third place and a plaque.  But I am proud to have third behind these two champions.  Their long years of experience and support of the APPA have gone a long long way towards building our organization to what it is today.

Although we only had three plaques for this tournament, I feel that several others should be mentioned.  Butch Ransbottom is one that plays excellent one pocket and he is a fierce competitor.  Very hard to beat.  Another is one of my long time friends, Randy Porter.  By all rights he should have beat me.  We went hill to hill and I don’t know how I managed to win the tiebreaker.  I might mention that Saturday was his 17 wedding anniversary and his lovely wife Janice insisted that he play the tournament anyway because she knows how he loves the game!  Now, how’s that for a supportive wife and a supportive APPA member?!

Everyone played tuff and we had a lot of fun too boot.  Course everyone also knows that I’d rather play one pocket that eat, but it was a bumper day for us all.  See you at Straight Pool next Saturday and…. 

Keep On Keepin’ On,

 Bob Reed
APPA President

Russell Smith - 1st Place	John James - 2nd Place

ONE POCKET STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

PASTIME BILLIARDS, SEARCY, AR  *  DECEMBER 6, 2008

APPA Board Handicap Changes

The following are changes to player handicap:

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

 Attention Non-Members!  

Good news for non-members playing APPA tournaments.  Due to our ongoing effort to make it as easy for players to compete in the State Championship Tournaments the board has decided to allow all tournaments played as a non-member to count toward qualification for 8 Ball and 9 Ball State.  You lose any extra fees that were paid but the tournaments themselves will count.  How’s that for reaching out to accommodate players.  All you must do is join and pay the $25 membership or the $10 fee if you are female or under 21.  But remember, as soon as you buy your membership you are qualified to play in the $$$ added tournaments, the State 8 Ball with only four qualifiers, the State 9 Ball with only eight, and only ten qualified tournaments to compete in the prestigious Harold Schmidt Invitational at the end of the year.  So now there are no excuses!  Do what you gotta do to get qualified and help get your friends qualified too… if you dare.  As you know there are plaques to be won and cash to be given to the winners as well.

 So lets git it on and make it the biggest and best over!

 And Keep On Keepin’ On,

Bob Reed
APPA President 

RACK-N-CUE, BATESVILLE

   Will be holding their first APPA Tournament

January 8, 2009

 
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