Perfect pool didn't save Lee.
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Side Rail News
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In addition to having a shot at the $16,000 top prize in the Brunswick Billiards National 9-Ball Championship, Gerda Hofstatter has a lot riding on this evening's finale against Allison Fisher. Should she defeat Fisher, Hofstatter will be "on deck" in the live ESPN Ultimate Challenge finals in Orlando, Jan. 31, 1998. Fisher plays Dawn Hopkins in the Ultimate Challenge's opening match. The winner plays a second grand finale against the reigning WPA world 9-ball champ. If Hopkins wins the opening match, Fisher, as WPA champ, would return to play Hopkins a second time. Should Fisher win, the first substitute is scheduled to be the '97 WPBA national champ. With a win this evening, Hofstatter would enter as finalist in the second live match, worth $25,000 to the winner. If Fisher wins the WPA world and WPBA national titles, the '96 ESPN World Open winner (Vivian Villarreal) would face Fisher.
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In a riveting display of near-perfect pool, Allison Fisher and Jeanette Lee staged yet another episode in their heated tour rivalry Sunday afternoon in the semi-final of the Brunswick Billiards National 9-Ball Championship. The WPBA's top two seeds seesawed through a race-to-seven match that featured four ties before Fisher packed away a 7-5 verdict to move into the title match of the $85,000 tournament against Gerda Hofstatter.
Neither Lee nor Fisher gave an inch in their contest. Not only did neither player miss a makeable shot, each ball seemed to split the pockets without so much as a wobble.
"We both shot so well," said Fisher, the two-time defending champ. "It was really a terrific match."
Fisher trailed 2-1, before winning three straight for a 4-2 advantage. From that point on, whichever player got the first clean look following the ensuing break managed to run a perfect rack. At 5-5, Lee came up empty, leaving an open table. It would be her last trip to the table.
"Not making a ball on the break at 5-5 was obviously the key," said the disappointed Lee, $6,000 richer for third place. "I was comfortable and felt very confident. I just didn't get a roll at the right time."
Fisher now faces her closest friend, Hofstatter in the title match. Hofstatter has admitted to dreaming of a title shot at Fisher, "because she's the best player on the tour."
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