ESPN Slot Still Up For Grabs
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Contrary to published reports, 1996 ESPN World Open women's champion Vivian Villarreal is not officially the "opponent in waiting" for January's live Ultimate Challenge event. The ESPN finale, slated for Jan. 31, features Allison Fisher against Dawn Hopkins for the Ultimate Challenge title. The winner of that match will either face (in order of preference) the '97 WPA World Champion (Fisher, in the event that Hopkins wins), the '97 WPBA National Champion (to be determined this weekend), or the '96 ESPN champ (Villarreal). The December issue of Billiards Digest reported, based on information supplied by ESPN publicist Dave Nagel, that Villarreal was to automatic fail-safe in event Fisher defeated Hopkins in the Ultimate Challenge final. The fail-safes are in place to prevent Fisher from playing herself in the grand finale ‹ which, in reality, could prove to be her toughest match of the year!
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One of the WPBA's longest-standing and most respected players postponed her imminent retirement from the Classic Tour for at least one more round.
Peg Ledman, a fixture in women's professional pool for 16 years, defeated Shari Stauch, 9-6, Friday afternoon to stay alive in the 1997 Brunswick Billiards National 9-Ball Championships at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Red Wing, Minn. Ledman, who announced that the event would be her last, was knocked into the loser's bracket Thursday night by Jeanette Lee.
Ledman, who currently resides in Nashville and plans to continue her work in tournament promotion and direction, has been one of the tour's most ardent supporters and most tireless workers. Her devotion to the women's pro tour cause almost certainly curtailed her competitive career. Ledman served as WPBA president from 1987-91. Her playing career included tour titles in '86 (Charlotte Open), '89 (Memphis Open) and '92 (LA Open), and numerous top-four finishes.
Ledman plays Deb Brown Friday evening.
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