The San Diego Pool League hosted the 59th West Coast Challenge (WCC) last weekend at the Town and Country Resort in Hotel Circle. The three-day, bi-annual event featured 124 of the top pool players in Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Francisco and San Diego.

The four city leagues, which have weekly competitions between teams, are comprised of men and women, GLBT and straight players. The league play is over a 16-week schedule in the fall and the Spring. At the end of each season, the cities send to the WCC eight individuals to play in the individual tournament, four women for the Women’s Tournament, a two-member Hi/Lo team as well as the winning team of each city league competition.

After three days of hard, intense competition, San Diego’s Phil Burnes (who plays for San Diego Eagle) took first place in the Referees Trophy Tournament. San Diego players Jore Calvo (San Diego Eagle) and Michael Loyer (Kelly’s Pub) took second and fourth place respectively.

San Diego player, Ernie Elliott (Kelly’s Pub) won second place in the Open Individuals tournament and Luis Arbarca took eighth in Open Individuals, while Gina Zide (San Diego Eagle) took fourth place in Women’s Tournament.

Highlight of the WCC was the Team competition finals between San Francisco and Long Beach. Each team had six players and the match goes to nine games. The match went into overtime, with Long Beach coming out on top. Players from Long Beach also swept first place in the Open Individual, Hi/Lo and Women’s competitions.

A feature of this WCC was the video taping of some of the games, a first for WCC competition. In line with that, it was also the first time “instant replay” was used to review a referee’s call at a WCC match. The camera work was provided by Take One Productions of Carlsbad.

Also at this WCC tournament, San Diego Pool League inducted one of its longtime players/leaders into the WCC Hall of Fame. The new Hall of Famer is Pat Lowery. Pat plays for a team out of Mission Valley Resort. She was presented the honor by her longtime friend and team member Bill Dorman, while WCC participants, along with her partner, Michelle, gave her a standing ovation.

The San Diego WCC organizing committee is chaired by Russ Mortenson Boyd. Other members are: Phil Burnes, Jore Calvo, Tom King, David Laguana and Michael Loyer.

The new season for the San Diego Pool League begins Monday, July 27. For more information, or to join a team, please contact the San Diego Pool League Web site www.sdpool.org.