Rim Gears Up for U.S. Open With Great Lakes Win

By Bill Rosenberger

With the WPBA U.S. Open set to break o­n Thursday in Albuquerque, NM, Alice Rim wanted some good competition to get her warmed up.  After going undefeated o­n October 16-17 in Columbus, OH, o­n the Jacoby Cue Great Lakes Tour, she feels ready for next week's big event.

"The level of competition in this tour has increased greatly in the past year," Rim said.  "It's definitely a great warm-up for the Open."

Rim battled a strong field 29 ladies in the two-day stop at the Golden Eight Ball to finish undefeated and get some spending money for her upcoming trip.  Although she finished o­n top, the field was tough, sporting top tour players Ida Fuller and InsidePOOL Magazine's November Regional Player of the Month, Rachael Abbink. 

Rim's journey to the finals heated up o­n Sunday in her hot seat match with Ida Fuller.  After being tied at 1 and 2, Rim pulled ahead and won 7-3. 

The semifinals pitted Fuller against C.J. Jerome in what turned out to be a very close and competitive match.  After the two traded some early games, Fuller pulled ahead 6-4.  Jerome got to within o­ne, but Fuller won the twelfth game for the 7-5 victory.

The finals looked to be a tough match for both Rim and Fuller in the race-to-9 format.  Rim took an early 2-1 lead, but Fuller battled back to eventually tie it up at 3.  Rim went up 5-3, but, again, Fuller wouldn't give up, creeping back to within o­ne at 5-4 and at 6-5.  Rim turned it up a notch and won three straight games for the 9-5 tournament victory. 
 

Results:

1st Alice Rim $480

2nd Ida Fuller $300

3rd C.J. Jerome $195

4th Angela Mears $130

5th Chandra Claypool, Sherri Cole $90

7th Julie Melman, Rachael Abbink $65