Gail “Virginia Slim” Eaton dominated a 38-player field, defeating Ming “The Empress” Ng in the finals, 7-5, to capture the fourth stop on the 2021 Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour.
On July 10th-11th, 2021, sponsors Poison by Predator Cues, Predator Cues, APA of North Harris County, Alamo Billiards, Outsville Billiards, and Team StraightPool Eye, produced another successful event for the women of the Gulf Coast Tour. The two-day, $1,000 added event drew 38 women players from all across Texas, and paid out $1,760 in prize money. The event was hosted by the Tour’s flagship venue, Big Tyme Billiards, located at 100 Cypresswood Drive in Spring, Texas, who provided twenty-three Diamond Bar Tables in a smoke-free environment, with an attentive wait staff, throughout the weekend. Predator provided brand new, Predator Arcos II Pool Balls and Outsville Billiards supplied Accu-Rack template racks, for each table. “Our Tour strives to provide the best equipment, conditions, and amenities for our players. Our sponsors and venues, deliver”, says Tour Director and WPBA Touring Professional, Kim Newsome.
Matches commenced Saturday morning, following a brief players meeting. On her way to the winners’ side, final four, Gail Eaton bested Natalie Rocha, 7-2, Ruth Paine, 7-0, Zoe Lozano, 7-1, and Kawania Watson, 7-5. The “Princess of Pool”, Teresa Garland, defeated Sherry Hildebrand, 7-2, Brenda Gunter, and Brandi Scott, 7-2. Ming Ng slid by “Bank Shot Dee” D’Andrea McQuirter, 7-4, Brittany Kromer, “Texas Heat” Kim Pierce and Robyn Petrosino, 7-5. Rounding out the final four, Courtney Peters overwhelmed Gretchen Roa, 7-1, Ciara Keyes, 7-0, Sherren Drake, 7-1, and Michelle Abernathy, 7-3. On the west side, breaking into the final eight, Rocha eliminated first-time player, Shiranda Kiraly, 5-0, and Petrosino, 5-2, while Sandra Melo ended Kromer, 5-1, and Abernathy. Rounding out the final four on the one-loss side, San Antonio’s Sophia Lopez shut out Hildebrand, 5-0, but fell to Watson, 5-4, while Pierce ended Beth Tindell, 5-2, and Brandi Scott, 5-3. Back on the east side, final four action witnessed Eaton railroad Garland, 7-1, and Peters take down Ng, 7-4. Determined to secure her first Gulf Coast Tour win of the year, Eaton defeated Peters for the hot seat, 7-4. Still grinding on the west side, after losing her first match to Eaton, Rocha racked up a total of seven wins, including victories over Melo, 5-1, and Garland, 5-2. Watson overwhelmed Pierce, 5-1, but was eliminated by Ng, 5-2. Ng went on to eliminate Rocha, 5-2, and redeemed herself with Peters, 5-3, to face Eaton in the finals. In the final set, Eaton guarded her position, and while Ng tried to gain control of the set, she was unsuccessful. Eaton closed out the set, 7-5, to win her first, Gulf Coast Tour event of 2021.
On July 9th, WPBA Touring Professional and Tour Director, Kim Newsome, hosted a two-hour instructional clinic for fifteen Gulf Coast Tour members, to help kick-off the event weekend. This is just one of the membership perks the Tour offers.
The Tour welcomed new members, Christine Legg, Sheri Duett, Gretchen Roa, Shanda Kiraly, Ciara Keys, and Zoe Lozano. Brandi Scott reached a milestone at this tournament, finishing 9th-12th, and in the money for the first time. Gulf Coast Tour player Sherren Drake of Dayton, Texas, also scored, winning a Poison Arsenic3-1 playing cue in the weekend raffle. The Tour recognizes Gulf Coast Tour Board Members Ruth Paine, D’Andrea McQuirter, Kim Pierce, and Ming Ng, who assisted in running a seamless, two-day event.
The next event will be held August 21st-22nd, 2021, at R House Bar and Grill, located at 2637 FM 529 Road, Houston, Texas, 77041. For more information, please visit www.GulfCoastWomensTour.com.
Payouts – Total $1,670
1st Gail Eaton $600
2nd Ming Ng $400
3rd Courtney Peters $270
4th Natalie Rocha $160
5th-6th Kawania Watson, Teresa Garland $75
7th-8th Sandra Melo, Kim Pierce $40 ea.
9th-12th Michelle Abernathy, Robyn Petrosino, Sophia Lopez, Brandi Scott $25 ea.