Schjodt Stays Hot in Fury Win

By Bill Rosenberger

It has become quite apparent that Debbie Schjodt is playing well o­n the Fury Florida Ladies Amateur 9-Ball Tour.  In fact, she's playing so well, her own roommate can't figure her out. 

Schjodt and Niki Rasmussen, who are good friends and roommates, battled in a Fury Tour stop at Fast Break Billiards in Longwood, FL, o­n Saturday, October 16.  The two played exceptionally well in their matches, and, as fate would have it, they met in the hot seat.  Schjodt and Rasmussen worked the match back and forth until it reached the hill.  Schjodt, who never trailed, pulled out o­n top 7-6. 

Rasmussen went to the semifinals, where she met another familiar face, Amy Poulter, whom she sent to the o­ne-loss side earlier in the day 7-3.  In the race to five, Rasmussen clung to a o­ne-game lead early, and up 3-2, she pulled away for the 5-3 victory and another shot at Schjodt in the finals.

The two friends know each other's styles well, and it was apparent that neither was going to give in.  This match, like the hot seat, went back and forth, too.   Tournament director Kay Higgins said the match was so defensive, it got out of hand.  "They both played a lot safeties o­n o­ne another," she explained.

In the end, Schjodt was the o­ne taking home bragging rights, as she and Rasmussen battled to the hill, but again, Schjodt came out o­n top 9-8. 

Two other ladies made notable strides in the event o­n Saturday.  In o­nly her fourth Fury tournament, Tammy Gillis finished a season-best fourth place.  And Alison Von Dewalle, who made her Fury tournament debut, won two of her first three matches and finished in a tie for seventh.

Results:

1st Debbie Schjodt $300

2nd Niki Rasmussen $150

3rd Amy Poulter $90

4th Tammy Gillis