Rogers Picks Up Right Where She Left Off

By Bill Rosenberger

The Hunter Classics Ladies Tour kicked off its 2005 season at Fast Eddie's in Austin, TX, o­n February 12-13 with a strong field of 53 players.  The opening event typically draws a tough and talented field, and this year was no different at the best of the best showed up, along with a few new faces. 

Heather Pulford and Leslie Anne Rogers, who have emerged as two of the toughest players in Texas, both advanced to the hot seat match.  The two ladies battled back and forth to reach hill-hill, but Rogers pulled out the 7-6 win. 

In the west side, Kim Tipton and Nicole Menitz were dueling it out to see who would advance to the semifinals.  Despite the outcome, both players would earn their highest personal finishes.  Tipton earned the victory, leaving Menitz to finish in fourth. 

In the semifinals, Pulford had no trouble ousting Tipton 7-2, as she earned her way back to the finals against Rogers.  Pulford jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the final match, but she couldn't hold it, as Rogers came back to tie it up at 3-all.  The two traded a few games, and Pulford regained the lead at 5-4, but Rogers strung together three straight games for the 7-5 victory.

Results:

1st Leslie Anne Rogers $750

2nd Heather Pulford $600

3rd Kim Tipton $455

4th Nicole Menitz $300

5th Michelle Cortez, Jennifer Kraber $160

7th Susan Wilbur, Orietta Strickland $120

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