[UPDATES] U.S. Amateur Championships 2007
- Thread starter ScottW
- Start date
Final results are here:
http://www.usamateurchampionship.com/coverage/2007/index.html
Jason Richko took the men's side, and Tina Larsen (who won it in '03) took the women's side.
It was great meeting the folks I did meet, and unfortunate that I didn't meet the other folks that were there. Another time, I'm sure...
http://www.usamateurchampionship.com/coverage/2007/index.html
Jason Richko took the men's side, and Tina Larsen (who won it in '03) took the women's side.
It was great meeting the folks I did meet, and unfortunate that I didn't meet the other folks that were there. Another time, I'm sure...
Scott, it was nice to finally meet you! It was a really well run event after losing my first match I was happy to make it through the losers side (with no byes) to finish 7th. Same finish I had last year. I was hoping to go a little farther, but the balls just did not roll my way in the last set.
As far as comparing this to the BCA, I am surprised at Jude's comment. Have you ever played in this? The BCA is a great event but anyone can enter, making the overall level very mixed. It is also a bar table event.
Having played in both myself, I have no doubt that AC's are a very tough event, with some of the best Amateur's in the country. From my experience on the women's side the level is very high, with many BCA Masters in the mix. I also think the fact that you must qualify, 9 foot tables and the mix of 8 Ball & 9 Ball, makes this a very tough tournament and quite worthy of it's status.
I also think the fact that you are really playing for glory, since there is no money prize, brings out players with a lot of heart...
As far as comparing this to the BCA, I am surprised at Jude's comment. Have you ever played in this? The BCA is a great event but anyone can enter, making the overall level very mixed. It is also a bar table event.
Having played in both myself, I have no doubt that AC's are a very tough event, with some of the best Amateur's in the country. From my experience on the women's side the level is very high, with many BCA Masters in the mix. I also think the fact that you must qualify, 9 foot tables and the mix of 8 Ball & 9 Ball, makes this a very tough tournament and quite worthy of it's status.
I also think the fact that you are really playing for glory, since there is no money prize, brings out players with a lot of heart...
JoeyA said:A guy named Carson knocked me out out the tournament on the last match of the night. He played exceptionally well, running out frequently. Big tall kid from Kentucky..... At 5-5, he caroms in the nine from far side rail to foot rail (he played it)
I doubt if you will be coasting no matter what your skill level is.
The skill level is higher than I expected. Although there are some C players in the tournament, there are far more B and A players than I thought there would be.
Everyone I played was a gentleman except Chan who kept walking around, squirming and moving while I was shooting. I got tired out it after several sharkings and told him so, rather sternly.He apologized and acted like a gentleman from there on out. It is a good tournament, maybe shorter races than I would like to have had but good overall and would recommend it to anyone seeking high level competition at the Amateur level.
Next stop, Derby City Classic.
JoeyA
I was going to edit this but just decided to re-post. Normally, I don't even look at the tournament board and seldom ask for the person's last name or first name. I fly by the seat of my pants in tournaments and don't like to have discussions with others just prior to my matches.
Actually I played the last match with the guy who came in fourth, named Willard, "RUSTY" Jackson III.
The last match was not with Carson as I stated previously, although I did play a Carson. 
Just so there is no confusion: Jackson played the best out of all of the players I played. I wanted to make sure he got the kudos he deserved. The lucky S**T, jump cut a ball and fired the object ball into half a pocket. And maybe all of that was just a figment of my imagination.
Nice tournament. Try it sometime, IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE. JoeyA
Yes, 24 or 25. Samm is a very good player and that was a great match, she had me 4-2 after the 9 ball round. As I told my friend Betty on the way back from the bathroom, "You know I like to dig myself a hole."ScottW said:I think there were 25 women all told.
Good meeting you too Cuechick - despite the fact you knocked Samm out yesterday
I won 3 straight 8 ball games, including a break & run in the 2nd rack.
I also came back the night before against a strong player from the Hunter tour, Christina De La Garza. A race to 5, I think is very tough, esp at this level. I know some are campaigning to change that, at least once the women get to this level of the competition.
I agree the women's event was a very high standard. I was helping one of the women to get in stroke before her match. She had a superb stroke and was an APA7, and yet she didn't place anywhere.
I was talking to the APA folks about the format. Obviously some of the top Amateurs will not come out because there is no money involved which is a pity because we are all amateurs, and we are not making a living from this. It's just our hobby. For the players this event has been designed to attract, I really don't think the motiviation for playing pool for these people is to win money. That's what makes this tournament unique and special. It probably also gives it a more sporting field. I had a couple of drinks with one of my opponents, and went to dinner with the family of another. You wouldn't get that in a typical "semi-pro" event.
I was talking to the APA folks about the format. Obviously some of the top Amateurs will not come out because there is no money involved which is a pity because we are all amateurs, and we are not making a living from this. It's just our hobby. For the players this event has been designed to attract, I really don't think the motiviation for playing pool for these people is to win money. That's what makes this tournament unique and special. It probably also gives it a more sporting field. I had a couple of drinks with one of my opponents, and went to dinner with the family of another. You wouldn't get that in a typical "semi-pro" event.
hobokenapa said:
I played in 2003 and finished in 9th. While I had a great time and enjoyed meeting many people it was simply too expensive. I didn't care that the event didn't have a cash payout but the expenses involved make it tough to go. I think thats why we see many of the same people back year after year. They have the money and a good game.
In 2003 my biggest problem with the event is was such a BLAH production. For guys and girls that are putting up their own cash to win nothing the surrounding scene should be a bit over the top. Usually in events like this the participants are treated very well and everything from food to announcements of players placing are done a little more extravagant. Thats the area that the players can receive.
I felt that that APA and the pool room just went through the motions.
That would be my suggestion is to place a team in charge of it to make it a very lavish or somewhat lavish event. If its truly the United States Amateur Championship then it should have that feel.
Maybe it was different or is different in Atlanta. In 2003 we were in Conn.
Anyone know how many tried to qualify for this event?
I heard figures bandied about that about one in eight folks qualified. There were 127 men, 25 women (I believe). So call that 150 - that figure times eight would be around 1200 people trying, more or less.
This year's event at Mr. Cues, they did set up a buffet for the players. Had a half-decent variety of food from what I saw.
This year's event at Mr. Cues, they did set up a buffet for the players. Had a half-decent variety of food from what I saw.
hobokenapa said:
I hear ya, and am not sure I will try again if it moves to another location (I am lucky enough to live in Atlanta), though they do now pay your hotel, which I am not sure they did, when you played?
I think Cues did a very nice job, they did have a buffet the first day and I thought the online coverage was excellent and the APA Staff are all very nice.
As far as the number of people who tried to get there, the prelim I atended had 125+men and more than 20 women. Only 2 of those got to go, so at least from the women's side it is more than 1 in 8 in most cases, cause I think there has to be more than 20 (or maybe 16?) for 2 spots to be won...so in most cases only 1 spot was offered....
hobokenapa said:
The one thing that bothers me about the event (aside from the obnoxious TD at the PA location - I'm going to drive further to avoid that guy next year) is that since it's APA sponsored the persist in using the silly APA rules.
The "prize" is a spot in the US Open - very prestegious, very pro. You should be able to a) push out in 9 ball b) win a game with 3 fouls c) have an open table after the break if any ball is made in 8 ball.
Also I agree - the ridiculously short races for the women are just silly.
frankncali said:
Agreed - the whole thing is handled very badly by the APA!
At the PA location - the event not only was BLAH, but was unorganized as well. Matches were not forfeit even if the players were ridiculuosly late. The tournament never starts on time either. This year they actually made us all pay $7 for greens fees for the day (not withstanding the fact that most people were paying $60-$100/night for a hotel already + travel expenses). The $7/person fee is insulting, it's a big pool hall, they agreed to sponsor the event - to collect $7/person is...distasteful. They did not do this last year (last year they committed the egregious last minute schedule change of having everyone play in just one day, even though it was always supposed to be a 2 day tournament - I imagine people complained so this year they charged everyone a few bucks to make up the difference).
The PA location does not post boards anywhere, the TD will not let you look at them or touch the ones he is using. He will also not answer any questions about when your match might be. He also gets very angry recently. He thinks he runs a tournament well, in reality he has got to be the worst TD I've seen (granted I'm no expert, plenty of people must have seen more TD's then I have).
I won my first round match very quickly. I asked the TD if I might be playing again anytime soon - he replied "it wouldn't be too long". I did not play for 5 hours. Another match had to finish, then another one had to start, then I played that winner. Anyone could have looked at the board and told me I had *at least* 2 hours free time - then I could have relaxed instead of constantly wandering around the arena *trying* to peek at the boards.
So frustrating!
I forget the TD's name, but even the local guys that know him from other events say he's "difficult" to work with.
cuechick said:
My bad...forgot about that I guess - I didn't do so well
and would rather forget my losses!juggler314 said:
Silly? Different than what you might prefer or are accustomed to, but most certainly not silly.
1) APA does allow the push out in the US Amateur in 9 Ball
2) You are what you make is arguably the most common way 8 Ball is and has been played.
3) Pocketing the 9 Ball as the only way to win doesn't seem like a bad rule. Sure, you could incorporate a 3 foul rule, but I don't think that really adds that much flavor to the game. How often does someone win a game using the 3 foul rule? So often that it's a must have?
I can appreciate different rules for different games. But, I wouldn't call those different rules "silly". When I conducted a Regional event for this most recent US Amateur Championship, only once did the 3 foul rule come up. And it came up by someone who obviously didn't read the rules first. And it also came up with that same someone who didn't need that rule to advance to the National event. They won anyway.
I thought the APA did an excellent job with the tournament. I never tried qualifying when the finals were in Conn. but this was my second trip to Atlanta and I thought it was great!! As far as expenses go, it is obviously more expensive for players that are too far away to drive to Atlanta and that is why the APA strongly recommends trying to line up sponsorship.frankncali said: