Billiards Digest - Pool's Top Source for News, Views, Tips & More

Rousey's on a Roll with Regional Win
Dec 4, 2006, 10:08 AM

Illinois native Sarah Rousey, currently ranked 19th on the WPBA point list, accepted an invitation to play in the Ladies Spirit Tour season finale this past weekend, among several of the top pro players including Monica Webb, Helena Thornfeldt and Kim Shaw. Coming off a fifth-place finish at the WPBA Nationals in November, Rousey rampaged through the winners' side and scored back to back hill-hill wins over Shaw and Webb to get to the hot-seat match against Ladies Spirit Tour No. 1-ranked Tracie Hines. Rousey made good on her momentum and won the match, 7-5.

On the one loss side, Hines had to face Thornfeldt, who drew Webb in the first round of the tournament and lost, but bounced back with seven wins in a row on the losers' side. Thornfeldt seemed to run out of gas against Hines, however, as Hines won 7-2 to earn another shot at Rousey in the final.

The final match saw streaks by both players at different points in the game. Rousey held an early 3-1 lead, but Hines came back and won three straight games to take the lead at 4-3. Those three games would be the last for Hines though, as Rousey won the next four games for the 7-4 win.

Rousey earned $2,225 for first place, while Hines settled for $1,525. Thornfeldt and Bonnie Coats filled out the top four spots.