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The US Open Diary

See photos from this event!

It felt like we hadn't played in a competition in ages, and I was right.  Peoria in July, to be exact.

We were all very exited about playing again. Kelly, Val and I flew together.  Tiff was already there.  She had been for a few weeks, playing in some comps and exhibitions with Melissa Little.  I must say well done Tiffany Nelson for your 2nd place finish in the NM State championship. YES, against the men.

I felt really good before the comp.  I was hitting the ball well, not perfect, but well enough to do some damage.  I was confident and happy with my game.  Everything in the garden was rosie, and then came The Charity event.  Everything went out the window.  I could not make a ball.  Kelly told me not to worry and we went over some shots together, but still I felt rubbish.

Funny thing though.  My partner and I won.

So I had a celebratory beer, then looked at the draw for tomorrow.

ROUND 1

Dangerous D'Atri (Lisa D'Atri)

Lisa "Dangerous" D'Atri is just that: Dangerous.  She can run out from anywhere.  I have played her several times and every time I don't want to give her an inch, because she will take it.

I knuckled down to business and won.
 

ROUND 2

The China Doll (Jennifer Chen)

Jennifer Chen looked well considering she had been in hiding for twenty years from the Mafia because she was in debt to them for 100 billion dollars, or was it case of chinese whispers in the pool world?  Ooopps.  Can I say that?  Oh well.

Anyway.  Nice to see you back Chen Chen.

I was really looking forward to this match.  I have never beaten Jen, but always enjoyed playing her.  I felt more relaxed this time and played with much more of care free attitude.  I began to feel like my old self.  I can't remember much about the game, only the last nine ball she missed when I was 8-7 up.  She left me very close to the 9, so I had to jack up and punch it.  What a relief when it went in.

ROUND 3

The Black Widow (Jeanette Lee)

Playing Jeanette is always fun, because she gets the crowd involved.  This was no exception.  I think I went 3 nil up. I hadn't missed a ball, then she took a break, came back and informed me that she was ready to play.  I knew that it was only for the crowd .  Anyway.  She really did start to play.  All of a sudden she was running out.  It didn't last though.  I didn't miss much, took every chance I had and won the match 9-4.

ROUND 4

VELVET (Sarah Ellerby)

This was the match to make it to the last 16 and play on Sunday on tele.  I didn't feel as relaxed as I had in the earlier matches, but I found myself to be up 8-2 up.  One would think I was confident, but some negativity crept in and we all know what that can do to a player.  Things went down hill from there.  Sarah played brilliantly to come back to 8-7 and I really felt under the cosh.

So the score is 8-7 me.  It's my break and I make a ball on the break.  I am plum on the 1 ball with the 9 hanging in the pocket.  I make the 1 ball and land perfectly on the 2, for the combination.

All I could do was to aim and make sure I kept still.  The 9 dropped, thank god, and I was through to the last 16.

THE LAST 16

The Irish Invader (Karen Corr)

Our match was the last of the 4 matches to be played and I felt wonderful.  I was hitting the ball well and I felt like it was a practice session. I try to get the feeling that it means everything but nothing at the same time, and when I get it, I play well.  I can't remember exactly, but I think the match went back and forth.  I do remember fluking an 8 ball and when I got down on the 9, I didn't even look at it.  Of course I missed it, and the next thing I knew it was hill to hill.

The only thing I remember was jacking up on the 7 ball to get position on the 8.  I hit it so sweetly, got plum on the 8 and had a relatively easy 9.  This time I made sure I took my time.  The 9 went in, and I was through to the semi's.

THE SEMI FINALS

The Assassin (Monica Webb)

Monica is so tough, I love playing her.  I had to relax myself and tell myself to enjoy it, and I did just that.  There was a moment, though, when I was 6-2 up,  made the winning 9, but scratched, when I wasn't too happy. I won't repeat what I said to myself, but I remained carefree and eventually won 7-4.

WAIT A MINUTE.  I WAS IN THE FINAL.

THE FINAL

The Duchess of Doom (Allison Fisher)

I still felt that I hadn't played my best, but my confidence was high and I was enjoying myself.  I ran the 1st rack up to the 9 then missed.  That's ok.  I'll just play the game and see what happens.  I don't think I made a mistake in the next 4 racks.  I do remember that my safeties and kicking were brilliant.  I took a 4-1 lead.

Then DOOM .

I won only 1 more rack after that.  I didn't collapse, but she stepped it up.  In doing so, she played shot of the century on a 3 ball.  She made a quarter ball, full length of the table pot,  whilst cueing over a ball.  All I could think was  BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

Ali and I decided that the loser would cook a Sunday roast.  Thinking about it, it's a blessing in disguise that I lost.

So.  I came in 2nd.  But I'm still not firing on all cylinders.  All one can do is practice and enjoy, which I do.

THE FLIGHT HOME.

Tracy and Jimmy Hines were on our flight and challenged Kelly to eat a packet of pretzels in under a minute, without a sip of water.

In my next diary, I'll let you know if she did it.

See you in Oregon for the Nationals.  

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