Smith, Lauritsen, Quinn, Abernathy, Couvillion, Almaraz
Ellen Couvillion returned to the Gulf Coast Tour following a several-year hiatus, to capture the sixth stop of the 2026 Season. held at Damifino in Angleton, Texas. She battled Mille Almaraz in finals, winning the first set, 7-5, and the second set, 5-2.
Couvillion
On June 13th, 2026, sponsors Poison by Predator Cues, Predator Cues, Rack IQ, Outsville Billiards, and Team Straight Pool Eye, produced another successful event for the women of the Gulf Coast Tour. The one-day event featured a $500 added purse, drew 13 players, and paid out $825 in prize money. Damfino provided twelve, 7’ bar tables for match play, all covered in tournament blue cloth, in a smoke-free environment. Predator provided Arcos II Pool Balls and Outsville Billiards supplied the Accu-Rack template racks, for discussion-free racking.
Almaraz
In the final eight on the winners’ side, Ellen Couvillion bested Sandra Rodriguez, 7-2, while Mille Almaraz shut out Ariel O’Neal, 7-0. Tanya Lauritsen ousted Ruth Paine, 7-4, and Lisa Smith defeated Verda Jones, 7-3. Down to the final four on the winners’ side, Almaraz ousted Couvillion, 7-5, and it was Lauritsen over Smith, 7-5. Lauritsen found herself in a first-time, hot seat match, in only her second Tour event, against veteran player, Almaraz. The hot seat match witnessed Almaraz take charge, denying Lauritsen her first, hot seat win, 7-1. On the one-loss side, in the final eight, Michelle Abernathy eliminated Paine, 5-1, but fell to Couvillion, 5-2. After losing her first match, Amber Quinn was on a roll, ending Rodriguez, 5-4, and Smith, 5-3. Vying for third place, Couvillion ended Quinn’s four-match winning streak, 5-1. Couvillion went on to defeat Lauritsen, 5-2, to meet Almaraz in the finals. In the first set, Couvillion pulled ahead to win, 7-5. In overtime, Almaraz was unable to regroup, and lost the second set as well, 5-2. The Tour would like to welcome Ellen back to competition and congratulate her on a well-deserved win.
Lauritsen
Also, congratulations to Tanya Lauritsen and Amber Quinn on their top finishes, third and fourth place, respectively. The Tour extends a heartfelt, “thank you”, to all the players who came out to support the events in Angleton, and encourages players to compete in a Tour event, at every opportunity.
Quinn
The next event is July 11th-12th at Big Tyme Billiards in Spring, Texas.
Payouts – $
1st Ellen Couvillion $400
2nd Mille Almaraz $275
3rd Tanya Lauritsen $150