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Another successful Southwest Challenge is in the books!
One hundred ninety-six teams (fifteen from our area) battled it out over two days for a total purse of
more than $25,000!
Thursday was business as usual, with a lot of set-up work to do. We rolled FIFTY pool tables into the Riviera and set them up, and took care of other chores like putting up the bracket and turning a riser and tables into an office in the back of the main control booth. Players and teams started arriving mid-afternoon to get in some practice on the tables before the main event. Thursday evening was filled with registration, practice, and mini tournaments.
The spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship was evident throughout the weekend. That's really the whole idea behind the Southwest Challenge - a fun-filled weekend of pool, making new friends, and reuniting with friends made in previous years.
Once again, WPBA professional Melissa Herndon made several appearances throughout the weekend, signing autographs and taking on all challengers. Melissa was a hit with the crowd, and those lucky enough to win their challenges get to brag to their friends about the time they beat a pro!
Unfortunately, the best South Coast finish this year was 33rd place. However, five of our 15 teams finished 33rd, stumbling in the 8am round on Saturday morning. I wonder how many of them were up late Friday night, partaking in that Southwest Challenge camaraderie?
Click here for a complete list of our teams and how they finished. (You'll need Adobe Reader to open the file, you can get it here.)
The finals on Saturday night pitted San Francisco against San Gabriel. The team from San Francisco, relative newcomers to the Southwest Challenge, jumped out to an early lead by taking the first match. However, San Gabriel was able to complete the comeback, earning $3,599 for first place and the Southwest Challenge trophy for the next year.
After two down years, it was good to see the Southwest Challenge field increasing again. Next year is sure to be bigger, but don't wait until the last minute or you may not get a slot. We had to turn a few teams away this time!