Barton, Almaraz, Bayaua, Julian, Pyle, Couvillion
Mille Almaraz aced a talented field of twenty-five women players, at the seventh stop of the Gulf Coast Women’s Regional Billiards Tour season, held at Big Tyme Billiards in Spring, Texas. Almaraz fought through a stellar lineup of competition, defeating Courtey (Peters) Barton in the first set of the true double elimination finals, 6-4.
On July 11th, 2026, sponsors Poison by Predator Cues, Predator Cues, Outsville Billiards, Team Straight Pool Eye, and newest sponsor, Rack IQ, produced another successful event for the women of the Gulf Coast Tour. The two-day event featured a $500 added purse, drew 25 players, and paid out $1,125 in prize money. Big Tyme Billiards provided twenty-four, 7’ bar tables for match play, all covered in Predator Arcadia Reserve, 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.
In the final eight on the winners’ side, Ellen Couvillion ousted Tiffany Huvar, 6-3, while Courtney (Peters) Barton denied Ashley Julian, 6-4. Mille Almaraz overcame Tanya Lauritsen, 6-3, and newlywed, Teresa (Garland) Bayaua, bested Ariel O’Neal, 6-4. In the following winners’ side round, Julian slid past Couvillion, 6-5, and Almaraz squeezed by Bayaua, 6-5. Hot seat action witnessed another close match, with Almaraz winning the set, 6-5. On the west side, and in the final eight, Barton eliminated heavy-hitter, Natalie Rocha, 5-3, along with Bayaua, 5-3. Tindle-Pyle eliminated Lacy West, 5-3, but fell to Couvillion, 5-4. Down to the final four, one-loss side action saw Barton send Couvillion home, 5-3, and a final win against Julian, 5-0, earned Barton a shot at the winners’ circle. In the final set, a determined Almaraz finished off Barton, 6-4, to capture her second Tour victory of the 2026 Gulf Coast Tour season. Congratulations to Mille Almaraz on another well-deserved win.
The Tour would like to thank all the players who came out to support the seventh stop of the year, officially welcome all first-time players, and encourage all to return at every opportunity.
The next event is September 12th-13th at lturbide Pool House in Laredo, Texas.
Payouts – $1,125
1st Mille Almaraz $450
2nd Courtney (Peters) Barton $300
3rd Ashley Julian $180
4th Ellen Couvillion $95
5th-6th Teresa (Garland) Bayaua, Leslie Tindle-Pyle $50 ea