2004 APA 9-Ball Shootout Singles Championship

Three champions were crowned Saturday afternoon in the $100,000 APA 9-Ball Shootout.

In the green tier (SL 1-3), it was Heather Bielen (SL 2) of Sebastian, Fla., defeating Katie Graham (SL 3) of Saginaw, Mich., 25-8. Bielen advanced to the final round with a victory over Julie Perkins (SL 3) of Oklahoma City. Graham advanced after defeating Phyllis Ruark (SL 3) of Ocklawaha, Fla.

In the white tier (SL 4&5), Rex Swett (SL 5) of Lakewood, Colo., defeated Butch White (SL 4) of Merritt Island, Fla., 38-26. Swett defeated Carlos Ribeiro (SL 5) of Nawgatuck, Conn., to advance to the finals, while White advanced with a win over Sharon Soska (SL 4) of Philadelphia.

In the black tier (SL 6-9), Frank Almanza (SL 9) of Upland, Calif., defeated Bill Buysse (SL 6) of Creve Coeur, Ill., 75-23. Almanza advanced to the final round with a victory over Eric Tang (SL 9) of New Britain, Conn. Buysse advanced after a win over Fidel Sanchez (SL 7) of Stuart, Fla.

Each champion received a prize package worth $10,000 in cash and prizes.

More than 10,000 amateur shooters attempted to qualify for the 2004 APA 9-Ball Shootout Singles Championship in their local league area. Nearly 1,400 poolplayers made it to the regional level of the 9-Ball Shootout before the field was whittled down to 100 men and women competing this weekend for 9-Ball crowns in each of the three skill level tiers.

Green Division Skill Level 1-3	White Division Skill Level 4-5	Black Division Skill Level 6-9
1st Place – Green Heather Bielan – Sebastian, FL	1st Place – White Rex Swett – Lakewood, CO	1st Place – Black Frank Almanza – Upland, CA
2nd Place – Green Katie Graham – Saginaw, MI	2nd Place – White Butch White – Merritt Island, FL	2nd Place – Black Bill Buysse – Creve Coeur, IL
3rd Place – Green Julie Perkins – Oklahoma City, OK	3rd Place – White Carlos Ribeiro – Nawgatuck, CT	3rd Place – Black Fidel Sanchez – Stuart, FL
3rd Place – Green Phyllis Ruark – Ocklawaha, FL	3rd Place – White Sharon Soska – Philadelphia, PA	3rd Place – Black Eric Tang – New Britain, CT
5th Place – Green Crystal Dorsey – Sumner, WA	5th Place – White Jim Dolski – Mt. Airy, MD	5th Place – Black Jon Bourgault – Studio City, CA
5th Place – Green Christina Sibson – Clearwater, FL	5th Place – White Harold Dorden – Marietta, GA	5th Place – Black Sean Lane – Westlake Village, CA
5th Place – Green Gwendolyn Steckel – Kempton, PA	5th Place – White Monica Dwenger – Acworth, GA	picture not available   5th Place – Black H. Alex Balogi – San Jose, CA
	5th Place – White Janet Fitzgerald – West Palm Beach, FL	picture not available   5th Place – Black Marlon Hutchins – Columbia, SC

Copyright 2003, American Poolplayers Association. Page Last Updated on Saturday, April 17, 2004 6:12 PM