The American Cuemakers Association (ACA) is proud to announce its latest inductee into the prestigious ACA Hall of Fame and its 2011 “Cuemaker of the Year,” Tad Kohara and Keith Josey. The ACA was formed in 1992 to promote the American cue and cue maker, to recognize a standard of excellence in the art of cue-making, to educate the public about cues, and to work with other organizations whose objectives are compatible with the ACA’s to promote pool and especially the American cue.

Considered the most prestigious award in the cue-making industry, the ACA’s Hall of Fame presently has 13 inductees. They include George Balabushka, Herman Rambow, Burton Spain, Ernie Gutierrez, Harvey Martin, Gus Szamboti, Frank Paradise, Eugene and Ilona Balner, Dan Janes, Jerry Franklin, Bill Schick, and Richard Black. The 2011 inductee is Tad Kohara of Tad’s Custom Cues.

The American Cuemakers Association (ACA) is proud to announce its latest inductee into the prestigious ACA Hall of Fame and its 2011 "Cuemaker of the Year," Tad Kohara and Keith Josey.

Tad began repairing cues in 1963 in a poolroom he owned in Los Angeles. Within a year, because of popular demand, he began making his own cues. Although not a pool player himself, Tad had a lot of input regarding the playability of his cues from the likes of Willie Mosconi, Jimmy Caras, and Joe Balsis. Tad was also influenced by cue makers Harvey Martin, Ernie Gutierrez, Gene Balner, and Doc Fry, three of whom are previous inductees themselves.

Never making more than approximately 100 cues per year, Tad used very little ivory in his cues because of the large numbers going overseas. In 2003, after 40 years of making top-quality, highly collectible cues, Tad Kohara was recognized as a “Master Cuemaker” by his peers and collectors at the “Showcase at the Ritz” in California. Although making very few cues today, the Kohara name carries on as his son, Fred, continues the tradition started by his father.

The “Cuemaker of the Year” award was begun in 2008 to recognize an ACA member who has provided a top quality product in an ethical, honorable, and professional manner through the years. The award is presented annually at the Super Billiards Expo at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA. This year’s Expo will be held March 10-13 with the presentations being made at the ACA banquet March 12.

The 2011 ACA “Cuemaker of the Year” is Keith Josey of Josey Custom Cues in Savannah, GA. Keith grew up playing pool and woodworking in his father’s shop. In 1988 Keith opened Josey Cue Repairs in Savannah when he became dissatisfied with local repairs. In 1992 he opened Josey Custom Cues. Known for his elaborate points and inlay designs, many Josey cues have complex floating points with a “medieval” motif.

Also to be recognized at the banquet will be this year’s recipient of the “People’s Choice Award.” This award acknowledges the public’s choice of their favorite cue on display at the ACA booth at the Super Billiards Expo. Every ACA member can display one cue of which they are especially proud. Attendees at the show can then cast their votes for their favorite cue. The cue maker whose cue receives the most votes will be recognized with the “People’s Choice Award. Last year’s winner was Pete Tonkin.

Custom Cuemakers list

Pictures of the award winners and the winning cue will be posted after the presentations on the ACA website, www.cuemakers.org.

Gambler Pro Tour goes green! McDermott, a leader in cue manufacturing for decades, has announced it will team up with Gambler Pro Tour as the official cue sponsor of the new McDermott Gambler Pro Tour.

Dan Dennis, founder of the GPT, said, “This will be a great opportunity for McDermott to showcase their products throughout the southeastern U.S. region. I am glad to have McDermott as the official cue sponsor. They produce solid, well-handcrafted cues, and I am glad to be promoting such a cue line with the new tour. Their award-winning cues have been in the forefront of billiards for decades. It’s a name well known and trusted in the billiards industry.”

McDermott, a leader in cue manufacturing for decades, has announced it will team up with Gambler Pro Tour as the official cue sponsor of the new McDermott Gambler Pro Tour.

The McDermott Gambler Pro Tour, or McDermott GPT, is set to kick off this spring in poolrooms throughout the southeastern U.S. region. These weekend tour stops will play host to a pro/open 9-ball event, a semi-pro/amateur 9-ball event, and a ladies’ 9-ball event at each stop. If the poolroom has enough tables and the response is good enough, the McDermott GPT will also play host to a one-pocket event and 10-ball ring games.

For more information on McDermott Cues, please visit McDermottCue.com. Also, for a complete list of events, formats, tour schedule, player rankings, handicaps, and more, please log onto GamblerProTour.com. The McDermott Gambler Pro Tour would also like to thank the following sponsors: McDermott Cues, Gambler Clothing, Team Gambler, BilliardScoop.com, X-treme Vision Studios, Inside POOL Magazine, and AZBilliards.

Immonen is featured on the February 2009 cover. The free magazine can be downloaded for free.

This month features Mika Immonen on the front cover. Mika Immonen and Kelly Fisher earn Player of the Year nods. Mike Davis wins the Reno Open. Mika Immonen leads Team Europe to a Mosconi Cup Victory in Malta.  Get pool lessons and billiard instruction from Grady Mathews, Tom Simpson, Bob Henning, John Loftus, Donny Lutz and Matt Sherman.  You might as well jump!  Learn how to do trick shots from Jason Lynch. Restore a pool table with Doug Jiles. Get the ruling from pool referee Ken Schuman on ear buds. Visit cue maker Ernie Guiterrez of Gina Cues. Rob Johnson gives us the scoop from the BCA. Get the latest news from pool tournaments around the US and internationally in the regional reports.

Download the February 2009 issue of Inside POOL Magazine for Free

Inside POOL Magazine publishes both print and online versions of each issue. The online version is usually made available for free viewing and downloading around the middle of each month. If you would like to receive the print version of this wonderful magazine, please visit InsidePOOLmag.com to subscribe.

Cue makers Tim Scruggs and Richard Black have received honors from the American Cue Makers Association.

Richard Black received no formal training in machining or art but has an eye for design. He began making cues in 1974, treating cues like they were blank canvases. What he has created with them is nothing short of art. He has been on the board of directors for both the ACA and the Academy of Cue Art and lives in Lake Houston, TX, with his wife, Ardis.

Tim Scruggs, another top U.S. cue maker, started making cues in 1972 in Towson, MD, and has been making custom cues from 1978 to the present in Baltimore, MD. He is known for mixing modern and classic designs to best present his designs and materials in a stunning light.

Shannon "The Cannon" Daulton is featured on the cover of the new free download of Inside POOL Magazine.

This month, Inside POOL Magazine features Shannon Daulton as he shoots his way onto the front cover by winning the Great Southern Billiards Players Championship. See the U.S. Amateur Billiard Champions. Steve Moore claims the Seminole Tour finale and Monica Webb snares the Women’s Professional Billiard Association title in Florida for her first WPBA title. Get the latest pool lessons and billiards instruction from Tom Simpson, Bob Henning, Grady Mathews and others.  Jason Lynch will pull another trick shot out of his bag and show us how it’s done.  Of course, get the latest regional pool tours from around the world. See the amazing cue maker Wes Hunter with some of his fantastic pol cues.  Ken Schuman gives us a lesson about the rules of pool and billiards and Doug Jiles shows another trick to restoring your pool table to its former glory.

Download the January 2009 issue of Inside POOL Magazine for Free

Inside POOL Magazine publishes both print and online versions of each issue.  The online version is usually made available for free viewing and downloading around the middle of each month.  If you would like to receive the print version of this wonderful magazine, please visit InsidePOOLmag.com to subscribe.

Legendary actor and billiards icon Paul Newman is featured on the cover of the free November 2008 Inside POOL Magazine.

The November issue of Inside POOL Magazine has been made available for free download at InsidePOOLmag.com. The download features new technology in online magazine viewing such as flipping pages, zooming, emailing, sharing, and printing.

The November issue features legendary actor and billiard icon icon Paul Newman adorns our front cover. Jasmin Ouschan snaps off the WPBA Carolina Classic. Corey Deuel racks up a Seminole Pro Tour win. Check out our 2008 Holiday Buying Guide. Billiards instruction and pool lessons from Grady Mathews, Shannon Daulton, Tom Simpson, Bob Henning, and Jason Lynch. See what Doug Giles can teach you about pool tables. Does Ken Shuman lays down the law on pool and billiards. Fred Agnir gives us a peak at the art of cue maker Kent Davis. Rob Johnson gives us the read on the current state of the billiard industry. As usual, there’s professional billiard instruction, regional tournament reports, and our monthly columns.

View the FREE Download of November 2008 Issue

Registration is not required

by InsidePOOL Staff

Pete Tascarella Jr.

The Predator 9-Ball Tour held its first A-B-C-D tournament the weekend of September 27-28 at Raxx Pool Room Bar and Grill in West Hempstead, NY.  Forty-seven of the region’s top amateur players came out to vie for their piece of the $1,000-added event, with Pete Tascarella Jr. coming out on top. 

The event’s structure required A and B players to compete against one another on the top half of the chart, while the C and D players battled it out at the bottom, only to meet one another in the quarterfinals.  

Leading the A/B players was tournament veteran Tascarella Jr.—son of famous cue maker Pete Tascarella Sr.—who had the unfortunate luck of drawing his father in the first round.  After a nail-biting hill-hill match, Junior defeated his father and went on to defeat Ariel Rivera 7-4, Chris Laz 7-3, Thomas Wan 7-4, and Eric Toledo 7-6.

The bottom of the chart had its share of close calls amongst the C/D players.  After narrowly defeating John MacArthur 7-6, William Finnegan went on to defeat Emily Harrison 7-2, Mike Schloven 7-1, and Marco Dy 7-2.  This set up the hot seat match between Finnegan and Tascarella Jr.

Day two action on the left side saw Wan defeat Mark Pantovic 7-3 before being defeated by Toledo 7-4. Toledo met up with Marco Dy next and fought hard to best the dangerous C player 7-5 to face Finnegan in the semifinals, who lost a tough match to Tascarella for the hot seat 7-4. The underdog, Finnegan pulled out all the stops to close the door on Toledo’s tournament, defeating him 7-5 and leaving him to settle for third place. In the finals, Finnegan showed a lot of heart but simply couldn’t keep up with the more experienced Tascarella and fell short 7-3. 

Results:
1st Pete Tascarella Jr.                            
2nd William Finnegan                           
3rd Eric Toledo                                     
4th Marco Dy                                        
5/6th Thomas Wan                                   
5/6th Jose Soto                                         
7/8th Mike Schloven                                
7/8th Mark Pantovic                                
9/12th Anthony Pizaro                          
9/12th Stew Warnock                         
9/12th Borana Andoni                        
9/12th Aron Rovner

Seybert’s Billiard Supply is the worlds largest Predator Cue and Shaft dealer and takes great pride in providing customers all over the world with the very best in billiard products, selection and customer service. Seybert s Billiard Supply is a large stocking dealer with Predator Cues, McDermott Cues, Viking Cues, Pechauer Cues and many other billiard manufacturers.

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The Hunter Classics Amateur Women’s Tour will have a new name in 2008. Wes Hunter, well-known cue maker out of Alamogordo, New Mexico, has been the sponsor of the tour for a record-breaking 15 years. After much discussion and inner-turmoil, Wes and his lovely wife Cindy have decided to focus their energies and pool cue-making activities toward enhancing their businesses. The Hunter Classics Amateur Women’s Tour held their last official “Hunter Classics Tour event” in February.
Board Member Melinda Bailey said, “the partnership that Wes has built with his name, custom cues, and all the women that participated in each and every Hunter Classics Tour event is without a doubt the best partnership we could have ever asked for.” Wes Hunter helped amateur women players to achieve their dreams and without Wes, this could not have been possible. Board Member Monica Anderson, added, “we applaud you for all you have done for us and wish you all the best in all your future endeavors. Thank You, Wes!”
It is with much excitement and honor that the tour still lives on. It has a new name, but the tour remains the longest-running, largest regional women’s tour in the country. In addition, no changes will be made – no fee increases or tour structure changes. Special thanks go to our new sponsor OB Cues. The new tour name is OB Cues 9-Ball Ladies Tour and the Owen-Bunnell organization will pick up the torch and carry on a 15 year tradition. OB Cues is best known for their OB-1 cue shaft – the vibration-damping core, radial consistency and low cue ball deflection gives you a cue shaft like you’ve never felt before. Board Member Julie Stephenson stated, “all the past, present and future amateur lady pool players appreciate what you are going to do for the tour and we welcome your sponsorship with open arms. Thank You, Don Owen and Royce Bunnell!”
Wes Hunter donated a Hunter Classics Custom Cue to every stop for the last 15 years. The custom cues were valued from $1,600 to $2,200 through the years, which helped raise raffle money for the host sites who adds $2,000 guaranteed to each event. Royce and Don will donate two to three OB Cues per stop – the total value will also be from $1,600 to $2,200. The tour will continue to have $2,000 added and the cues will help raise that money for the host sites. In addition to the $2,000 added, each OB Cues Ladies 9-Ball Tour stop will continue to be a WPBA Qualifier.
Royce Bunnell of OB Cues stated from his Plano, Texas shop, “The ladies of the Tour are very professional and the tour is run so well – we were very impressed with their tournaments. The experience we had at the events led to a quick decision for us to be a part of history and to help the women continue to reach their dreams. “
You can find the OB Cues Ladies 9-Ball Tour on the web at obcuestour.com. Wes Hunter can be found at hunterclassics.com and OB Cues can be found at obcues.com.
For more information contact:
Melinda Bailey – OB Cues Ladies 9-Ball Tour
mellbers[at]gmail.com
or
Royce Bunnell – OB Cues
rbunnell[at]obcues.com