Ladies Fury Tour Ends Year with New Name in First

By Bill Rosenberger

In the final Fury Florida Ladies Amateur 9-Ball Tour event of the season, the proverbial torch was passed from o­ne player to another.  Debbie Schjodt, playing in her last Fury event, finished in a tie for seventh, while Amy Poulter stepped up and took the victory in the tour finale at Strokers Billiards in Palm Harbor, FL, o­n November 13.

Poulter's victory earned her enough points to finish in the final top eight in overall points standings with 289.  As for Schjodt, who failed to finish in the money for the first time all season in a Fury event, the points championship was all but wrapped up.  She finished with 393, etching out her roommate and touring partner Niki Rasmussen, who finished with 377.

In the season finale, Poulter earned the comeback victory after falling in the hot seat match to Jennifer Nelson 7-5.  Nelson led the entire match, holding o­n to leads at 4-2, 4-3, and 6-5 before nabbing the victory. 

Poulter took her game to the west side to face Stephanie Mitchell, whom had lost to Poulter 7-5 in an earlier match.  Mitchell had worked her way back to the semifinals with wins over Colleen Russell and Amanda Smell.  Poulter and Mitchell presented a tough rematch of two ladies working for a spot in the finals.  The ladies traded games back and forth to reach the hill at 4 apiece.  Mitchell worked the table in the final match, having just to nail down the 9 ball to advance; however, as the 9 fell in the corner, the cue ball scratched in the side to give the victory to Poulter 5-4. 

In yet another rematch, Poulter faced Nelson in the race-to-9 finals, and again, the two were evenly matched.  They worked the score back and forth, with ties at 3, 5, and 6, and the two competitors matched each other stroke for stroke to reach the hill.  Poulter controlled the table, though, and earned the 9-8 victory. 

Results:

1st Amy Poulter $450

2nd Jennifer Nelson $260

3rd Stephanie Mitchell $180

4th Amanda Smell $100