Iris Ranola wins WPBA Qualifer!

[StevenPWaldon]

Just got a txt from Iris Ranola, who today won a WPBA Qualifer for the Carolina Classic. This was a JPNEWT event, at Comet Billiards. Seems like she's on a roll, and determined to be a touring pro. She beat Tiffany Nelson in the finals, but claims she got lucky. Way to go, Iris!

 

[BrooklynJay]

congrats to iris! she's really nice. i believe she's the number 2 ranked player in her country. that's strong.

i just wanna know why tiffany nelson, a pro who finishes the year last year of the wpba event in the top 30 if not the top 20, was allowed to play in the event? i thought events like this excluded women who finished in the top 32 at the end of the year.

 

[vagabond]

Just got a txt from Iris Ranola, who today won a WPBA Qualifer for the Carolina Classic. This was a JPNEWT event, at Comet Billiards. Seems like she's on a roll, and determined to be a touring pro. She beat Tiffany Nelson in the finals, but claims she got lucky. Way to go, Iris!

Iris is very humble,polite,little bit shy and shewill have good future in WPBA:thumbup:

 

[gopi-1]

Just got a txt from Iris Ranola, who today won a WPBA Qualifer for the Carolina Classic. This was a JPNEWT event, at Comet Billiards. Seems like she's on a roll, and determined to be a touring pro. She beat Tiffany Nelson in the finals, but claims she got lucky. Way to go, Iris!

She's the female version of Efren from the way she described her win! :woot: :woot: :woot:

 

[poolmonkey]

I played in my first newt event and met iris. She's really nice and friendly. She'll just say hi if she doesnt know you cuz thats how she rolls She shoots lights out but im sure her opponents could testify to that. I wish her the best of luck

 

[GG11]

Iris is a total sweetheart. I only really met her during this event and she couldn't have been nicer.

I got to see part of her match with Tiffany when they played earlier in the event and WOW can she shoot! And she breaks like an animal!

If you really want to make her day, bring her some milk. She was carrying around a half gallon. She loves the stuff!! So cute!

 

[GMAC]

Just got a txt from Iris Ranola, who today won a WPBA Qualifer for the Carolina Classic. This was a JPNEWT event, at Comet Billiards. Seems like she's on a roll, and determined to be a touring pro. She beat Tiffany Nelson in the finals, but claims she got lucky. Way to go, Iris!

So when's the big day for you two?

 

[Melissa Herndon]

congrats to iris! she's really nice. i believe she's the number 2 ranked player in her country. that's strong.

i just wanna know why tiffany nelson, a pro who finishes the year last year of the wpba event in the top 30 if not the top 20, was allowed to play in the event? i thought events like this excluded women who finished in the top 32 at the end of the year.

Most qualifiers do exclude the top WPBA players...but that decision is left up to the regional tour running the event. Some allow the pros to play...which gives the up-and-coming girls experience against playing the pros before they actually get to that level. Some exclude the pros because their membership doesn't necessarily want pros playing.

Also, any State Championships (which are qualifiers for the US Open) are open to all pros. Allison, Karen, etc could all participate in any/all State Championships that they like. They are simply ineligible to win the qualifying spot.

Melissa

 

[Nostroke]

Most qualifiers do exclude the top WPBA players...but that decision is left up to the regional tour running the event. Some allow the pros to play...which gives the up-and-coming girls experience against playing the pros before they actually get to that level. Some exclude the pros because their membership doesn't necessarily want pros playing.

Also, any State Championships (which are qualifiers for the US Open) are open to all pros. Allison, Karen, etc could all participate in any/all State Championships that they like. They are simply ineligible to win the qualifying spot.

Melissa

So it is the decision of the RT's. I was told the room owner made the decision by one Tour Op. I guess that particular tour defers that decision to the RO. Thanks Melissa for finally clearing that up for me.

 

[BrooklynJay]

Most qualifiers do exclude the top WPBA players...but that decision is left up to the regional tour running the event. Some allow the pros to play...which gives the up-and-coming girls experience against playing the pros before they actually get to that level. Some exclude the pros because their membership doesn't necessarily want pros playing.

Also, any State Championships (which are qualifiers for the US Open) are open to all pros. Allison, Karen, etc could all participate in any/all State Championships that they like. They are simply ineligible to win the qualifying spot.

Melissa

thanks. i believe friends of mine contacted the people running the newt to find out about who can and who can't play and was giving different responses. there's nothing on the newt website or on the wpba website about it. it just one of those things you'd like to know, that the newt's a pro am, before showing up and being surprised by the pro's allowed to play in it.

 

[Melissa Herndon]

thanks. i believe friends of mine contacted the people running the newt to find out about who can and who can't play and was giving different responses. there's nothing on the newt website or on the wpba website about it. it just one of those things you'd like to know, that the newt's a pro am, before showing up and being surprised by the pro's allowed to play in it.

There are 2 schools of thought on this. There are those who feel the pros should be prohibited from playing the regional tour circuit...that the circuit is for up-and-coming to hone their skills and sharpen their teeth and try to qualify for the WPBA. But some feel that the pros should be allowed to play...and if the up-and-comers aren't skilled enough to compete, then they aren't ready for the WPBA anyhow.

I, personally, subscribe to the 2nd school of thought. If there is a player competing at the regional level who is skilled enough to compete and make her mark in the WPBA ranks...then playing with the pros in the regionals isn't going to matter. Iris Ranola is a perfect example. It didn't matter to her that Tiffany was playing, because she is ready to move to the next level.

To be honest, there have been some players in the past, who have come from the regional tour system, who did yet play strong enough to compete at the pro level. Perhaps, if pros had been allowed to play in their regional tours, these ladies would have seen what is needed to be a top competitor.

I sincerely hope that no one takes any offense to these comments. They are not intended to slam any individual or group of individuals. It is more a commentary from someone who came up through the regional tour ranks...who knows what it takes to earn a place in the WPBA...and who, in her RT days, would have welcomed the challenge of playing a pro before she got to WPBA.

 

[Barbara]

I agree with you completely, Melissa. It was always a catch-22 situation that I had to explain over and over to players who complained about the pros being able to play.

Fortunately, JPNEWT had enough State Championships among its regular events to exclude the WPBA Pros from the regular events, but to unleash them in the SCs.

Barbara

EDIT: Oh Baby, were those great times to shoot amongst the Pros that turned out!! And on a side note, JPNEWT has the $4k NJ State Championships happening on July 19th/20th at Prime Time Billiards in South Amboy, NJ. It's open to all Women Players!!

There are 2 schools of thought on this. There are those who feel the pros should be prohibited from playing the regional tour circuit...that the circuit is for up-and-coming to hone their skills and sharpen their teeth and try to qualify for the WPBA. But some feel that the pros should be allowed to play...and if the up-and-comers aren't skilled enough to compete, then they aren't ready for the WPBA anyhow.

I, personally, subscribe to the 2nd school of thought. If there is a player competing at the regional level who is skilled enough to compete and make her mark in the WPBA ranks...then playing with the pros in the regionals isn't going to matter. Iris Ranola is a perfect example. It didn't matter to her that Tiffany was playing, because she is ready to move to the next level.

To be honest, there have been some players in the past, who have come from the regional tour system, who did yet play strong enough to compete at the pro level. Perhaps, if pros had been allowed to play in their regional tours, these ladies would have seen what is needed to be a top competitor.

I sincerely hope that no one takes any offense to these comments. They are not intended to slam any individual or group of individuals. It is more a commentary from someone who came up through the regional tour ranks...who knows what it takes to earn a place in the WPBA...and who, in her RT days, would have welcomed the challenge of playing a pro before she got to WPBA.

 

[phoebe choy]

There are 2 schools of thought on this. There are those who feel the pros should be prohibited from playing the regional tour circuit...that the circuit is for up-and-coming to hone their skills and sharpen their teeth and try to qualify for the WPBA. But some feel that the pros should be allowed to play...and if the up-and-comers aren't skilled enough to compete, then they aren't ready for the WPBA anyhow.

I, personally, subscribe to the 2nd school of thought. If there is a player competing at the regional level who is skilled enough to compete and make her mark in the WPBA ranks...then playing with the pros in the regionals isn't going to matter. Iris Ranola is a perfect example. It didn't matter to her that Tiffany was playing, because she is ready to move to the next level.

To be honest, there have been some players in the past, who have come from the regional tour system, who did yet play strong enough to compete at the pro level. Perhaps, if pros had been allowed to play in their regional tours, these ladies would have seen what is needed to be a top competitor.

I sincerely hope that no one takes any offense to these comments. They are not intended to slam any individual or group of individuals. It is more a commentary from someone who came up through the regional tour ranks...who knows what it takes to earn a place in the WPBA...and who, in her RT days, would have welcomed the challenge of playing a pro before she got to WPBA.

OOOOO, well said Melissa!!

I agree completely. Even tho my playing days are past now...when I was playing I felt exactly like you.

The part that I slanted is so very true too. I don't want to be offensive at all either but there is a big contrast in the two levels...and beleive me when I was playing, I knew in order to get to the WPBA a certain level HAD to be attained. And, if you are playing this sport (or any sport for that matter) to be the best you can at it....you ALWAYS welcome the challenge....and you WANT to play the better players.

I like a girl who will just say it as is and also speaks from experience.....you go girl!

 

[BrooklynJay]

i don't disagree with allow pros to play but usually when they are allowed to play they have to pay more to enter. (being the odds on favorites to win it) i do believe it's good experience and encourage woman to try the newt events and, being qualifiers, you should be able to compete with them if you plan on getting to the next level any way.

again, it was more of a communication issue and not having the rules concerning pros clearly stated and, when contacted, given misinformation.

 

[LAMas]

Melissa how did Michelle Rakin play in the Cal State Championship Qualifier? You also played very well.

 

[Krypto]

Why?

Your playing days are over? What are you, like 25 or 26 years old? I have seen you play, and there is no reason for you to talk like that. Your a darn strong player and it would be a total waste for you to quit on yourself so young. Maybe I missed a health issue or something, but for you to quit playing competitively would be a crime.

OOOOO, well said Melissa!!

I agree completely. Even tho my playing days are past now...when I was playing I felt exactly like you.

The part that I slanted is so very true too. I don't want to be offensive at all either but there is a big contrast in the two levels...and beleive me when I was playing, I knew in order to get to the WPBA a certain level HAD to be attained. And, if you are playing this sport (or any sport for that matter) to be the best you can at it....you ALWAYS welcome the challenge....and you WANT to play the better players.

I like a girl who will just say it as is and also speaks from experience.....you go girl!