The Story
Hot Time in Bourbon, Indiana as
Journey’s End Bar & Grill
Hosts 2nd 1.5+ Amateur Tournament
Three states were represented at the 2nd
2004 Amateur tournament hosted by Journey’s End
bar & Grill. Terry Wolford and Don Geiger from Ohio
joined the Bourbon faithful in the A/B Draw partner held
Friday night. With 6 boards at our disposal, including
two boards on semi-permanent loan from Gary Anglin and
Bill Niswonger, we were able to leave one board open for
practice while the A/B draw was going on. A big thank
you for all the A players that participated in this entry
fee only event. That’s one of the reasons there
are so many good players from Bourbon. The “A”
players help and teach those just learning. Shuffleboard
needs more young players and Bourbon will be glad to help
provide the next generation!
The results of the A/B Draw are as follows, with the
A player being listed first:
August 27th, 2004
A/B Draw – 14 Teams
1st Terry Dowell – Ed Stachulak
2nd Ray Miller – Keith Spencer
3rd Bud Esterline – Missy Rupe
4th Mary Brown – Jack Hamilton
Saturday August 28th dawned hot and humid and the shuffleboard
play was the same. Ann Harrell manned the registration
desk and Lisa Koontz did the bookkeeping. Tournament director
Gary Neff marshaled the troops and single handedly kept
play moving for three simultaneous events on the 6 boards.
Good job Gary! A total of 38 amateurs and 11 professionals
participated in the 3 events.
At stake in the Doubles tournament was a total purse
of $1,290 with a payout of 4 places. Terry Wolford and
Don Geiger of Ohio placed first, with Bobby Auton and
“Saint” Rob Kern of MI taking home a lot of
Indiana money! Long time married couple Pat & Lisa
Riewalt placed 4th in their first ever shuffleboard tournament!
Doubles – 18 Teams
1st Terry Wolford – Don Geiger - OH
2nd Bobby Auton – Rob Kern - MI
3rd Mike Grimes – Bill Niswonger
4th Pat & Lisa Riewalt
Singles
Local favorite Kristie Redman repeated as the Amateur
Champion, fighting off all comers, not losing a singles
game all day. Once again our guests from OH and MI made
off with a chunk of change. Total payout for the singles
was $1,690 to six places.
August 28th, 2004 – Singles 27 Teams
1st Kristie Redman 5th Terry Wolford - OH
2nd Don Geiger – OH 4th Jack Hamilton
3rd Bobby Auton – MI 6th Wally Dan
Pro Shootout
A talented group 12 of professionals participated in
the “pro” shootout. Not a bad turnout for
the first event of the season. Ray Miller was the hot
dog of the day taking home 60% of the total purse. Terry
Dowell placed 2nd with 30% and Mike Koontz received 10%.
Not a bad pay day!
$100 Pro Shootout – 12 Teams
1st Ray Miller
2nd Terry Dowell
3rd Mike Koontz
Promote Shuffleboard
An unexpected event about 8PM helped get shuffleboard
into the mainstream news. As I was playing in a singles
game in the main room (tied 8-8) my brother, Mike Koontz
came and asked me to take some pictures. I couldn’t
believe he was asking me this in the middle a game! Then
he made an announcement that I didn’t quite hear.
I noticed several strangers were now watching my game.
I mean strangers other than the normal shuffleboard players,
most of whom I now know. I went on with my game until
my OTHER brother asked for the camera. I practically threw
it at him and said, “Look through the little window
and push this button until it flashes.”
Only after my game did I get an explanation. The republican
candidate for governor of Indiana, Mitch Daniels, had
stopped by for a beer after 12 hours on the road. He stayed
for about 40 minutes with a group of his campaign workers.
After my game was over (yes, I won) he took a turn at
the table. More pictures were taken and shirts were exchanged
and they went on their way.
Sunday I finished up the webpage (http://www.bourbon.org/JourneysEnd/amateur_fall2004.htm)
for the tournament and uploaded the pictures to the picture
gallery. Monday morning I called the local newspaper (Bourbon
News Mirror, oldest weekly paper in the state). I directed
them to the pictures and gave them the phone numbers of
my brother’s for details.
Imagine my surprise when I walked into Journey’s
End after work to see my brother holding a copy of the
local DAILY paper with my pictures on the front page!
They spelled everyone’s name right, mentioned the
bar and shuffleboard! Hopefully more opportunities for
free publicity will present themselves in the future.
Ann Harrell
|
