Shared Honors Go to Jeong and Immonen in Florida

By Bill Rosenberger

For at least o­ne night, two players were crowned winners.  Number  o­ne Korean player Young-hwa Jeong dominated the Florida Seminole Pro Tour's Player of the Year Championship at Pro Billiards o­n October 10, 2004.  However, a third place finish by Mika Immonen earned the Finland native the official Player of the Year title. 

The field of 40 battled for a top prize of $3,000, thanks to a $7,000 added by host location Pro Billiards.  "Hurricane" Ronnie Wiseman, as his friends are now calling him, looked as though he was going to have no trouble breezing to the victory, but Jeong's headstrong play was more than anyone could handle.

The two met in the hot seat match first, each playing the other extremely tough, and the match went back and forth until it was 7-7.  At that point, Jeong played a great three-rail shot, but didn't leave himself anything.  Wiseman took advantage and eventually ran out the rack for the 9-7 win. 

Immonen, who had battled through the left side, was set to face Jeong in the semifinals, but Jeong's stroke was just too lethal o­n Sunday, and the Korean jumped to a 5-0 lead.  The two traded a few racks before Jeong finished the match with a decisive 9-5 victory.

The rematch was set between Wiseman and Jeong in the single-elimination, race-to-13 final match.  The match went back and forth with tied scores at 7 and 9.  At 11-11, Jeong pulled ahead for a o­ne-game lead.  The next game was a safety battle, but Wiseman scratched, leaving Jeong with ball in hand.  He sunk the 1 ball with a rail shot that also broke up the 2 and 5 balls.  Jeong was able to massé the 2 into the 9 for the 13-11 tournament victory.   

Immonen's third-place finish earned him enough points to win Player of the Year honors.  Robb Saez's finish in a tie for ninth earned him third place in the points race, while Charlie "The Korean Dragon" Williams claimed second.

For now, both Jeong and Immonen will savor their victories, but o­n October 22-24, the Florida State Championship will be held at Planet Pool Billiards in Tampa, FL, so they're sure to be ready.

Player of Year Results:

1st Mika Immonen

2nd Charlie Williams

3rd Robb Saez

Tournament Results:

1st Young-hwa Jeong $3,000

2nd Ronnie Wiseman $1,800

3rd Mika Immonen $1,200

4th Richard Broumpton $800

5th Mario Cruz, Troy Frank $600

7th David Grossman, Joey Landi $450

9th Tim Daniel, Bill Ferguson, Tervor  Braymore, Robb Saez $300