Women to return to Capone's for pool

The Ladies Florida Tour finale was a big hit.

By BRANT JAMES

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 7, 1999

SPRING HILL -- Capone's hosting of the Ladies Florida Tour Grande Finale was so successful this weekend the Spring Hill pool hall has been approved as a venue for one of the league's two qualifiers next year for the Women's Professional Billiards Association Tour.

Capone's owner, Rocky McElroy, asked LFT coordinator Tracy McCreary for two of 12 regular-season events next season, but "we're trying to talk him out of one," she said. She expressed an earnest hope McElroy will make another bid for the championships, which he hosted for the first time Saturday and Sunday. McElroy bid $2,500 -- which was added to the prize purse -- for the right to host the final.

"We love to go (to Capone's)," McCreary said. "(McElroy) treats us like royalty. It's one of the nicest rooms. He's talking two spots, but that's too hard for us. We have so many rooms and so little time."

McCreary said the tournament, at which one player will earn a spot in a WPBA tournament, will likely be held next summer, but McElroy will be allowed to pick the date.

"I told him whatever month he wants is fine," McCreary said. "He pulls a lot of weight with us."

Tallahassee resident Tracie Majors won the season-ending tournament of the fourth-year circuit, earning $1,000, a custom case and a trophy. Penny Swann (Oxford, England) won $600 for finishing second, Linda Permenter (Clearwater) won $400 and Jeannie Seaver (Rockledge), who was the tour's top point-gainer this season, won $300 by finishing fourth.

A $3,600 prize fund allowed purses to be paid to 14 of the 28 participants, McCreary said.

McElroy also considered the two-day event a success.

"It was fantastic," he said. "It just went great. A lot of women came out, a lot of couples. It was good."

Capone's next marquee event will be a stop on the Florida Pro Open men's tour Jan. 29-30.

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