TAP's 2016 Year End Newsletter

TAP LLC NEWSLETTER

The 2016 Year In Review Edition

Hello once again TAP members,

Another year has come and gone and what a exciting year it has been for TAP. With another sold out Rally this past April and then a fantastic nationals held recently in Charleston,South Carolina, it looks like TAP has the wind at our backs as we sail into 2017. With new licensees coming in from all areas of the country at a strong pace, 2017 looks to become a banner year for TAP and our members. Let's take this time to take a look at this past year as well as looking ahead to 2017. So take a brief moment from the tables and let us tell you where TAP was in 2016 and where we are going in 2017. TAP ON!

Celeste Schonter

TAP CAO

Charleston Nationals 2016

TAP NATIONALS 2016 Charleston, South Carolina

What a great event our players experienced this year starting out with a over the top welcome party catered spread plus a open bar. Some of the food included roast beef, shrimp and so much more that everyone walked away satisfied. Not only that but our players were treated to a happy hour on Friday and Monday with appetizers and free drinks. When players had the time away from the tables, they caught up on the local sightseeing catching such sites and Fort Sumter, southern plantations, local eateries, Market Street shopping as well as the many other offerings Charleston has to offer for visitors. This nationals would have made TAP founder Loyd Schonter proud of his team, and our members. This is what he envisioned TAP would become, the premier amatuer billiard league..

This year was our first year that a ladies only double elimination 9 ball tournament was held where the winner received a all expenses paid trip and entry into the WPBA U.S. Open next Aprils at Rivers casino in Pittsburgh, Pa. After some grueling matches that saw the final match come down to the last game the winner was Denise Hill from Tigerland TAP, Louisiana. She out lasted a tough field that included Stacy Allsup who lost her first match and then battled her way back in the losers bracket to win 7 straight matches and then won the first set in the finals only to lose when she hooked herself in the hill-hill game with only 3 balls left. A great performance by all. We at TAP are wishing Denise, our first of hopefully many TAP representatives at the WPBA U.S. Open, go od luck next April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. Make TAP proud!

Denise Hill from Tigerland TAP, Louisiana....our first WPBA Qualifier

OUR NATIONAL TEAM AND SINGLES CHAMPIONS ARE:

(only bracket winners posted)

The 2016 8 Ball National Elite Team...from North Coast TAP, Ohio

Randy's Friends!....OUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

8 Ball National Team Championship Bracket Winners, Mushrooms Tips from Phoenix TAP, Arizona

2016 9 Ball National Team Championship .. The Killer Bees from TAP Canada

2016 TAP National 9-Ball Best of the Rest Champions

Beaver Valley TAP, Pa.

The 2016 8 Ball Palmetto Dream Team winners, We Can Eat from

North Coast TAP, Ohio

2016 - 2/3 handicap 8 Ball Singles Champion, Angela Strickland,

Billiard Life TAP, Florida

2016 -4 handicap 8 Ball Singles National Champion, Andrey Myhal

TAP Canada

2016- 5 handicap 8 Ball Singles Champion, Trenton White,

Bay Area TAP, Florida

2016 - 6 handicap 8 Ball Singles National Champion, Shane Frost,

North Coast TAP, Ohio

2016- 7 handicap 8 Ball Singles Champion, Brian Irwin,

Bay Area TAP, Florida

9 Ball Singles Winners are:

2/3 handicap 9 Ball Singles National Champion, Tanner Hines

from Tigerland TAP, La.

4/5 handicap 9 Ball Singles National Champion, Roger Cobianco

from West Coast TAP, Fla.

(full story on Roger below)

6/7 handicap 9 Ball Singles National Champion, Derek Schwager

from Rack'em Up TAP, Pa

2016 National Scotch Doubles Winners Lovejoy and Highsmith

from Bay Area TAP, Fla.

Tommy (TK from Fla) Kennedy

holds court at TAP Nationals

As at TAP's nationals last year in Nashville,1992 U.S. Open 9 Ball champion, Tommy Kennedy was on hand to challenge our members at 8,9 or10 ball as well as performing his famous ball juggling routine at our nationals again this year.The ever likeable and approachable Tommy had a blast with the TAP players as he was kept busy for 3 days as our players lined up to take their shot and test their skills against a world class pro.Win or lose the players got a autographed tee shirt and a smile from Tommy. You can catch many of these matches that were live streamed on U stream at this link http://www.ustream.tv/channel/lh-tap-pool In between the challenge matches,Tommy amazed our members by keeping 11 balls rolling (juggling) on a 7 foot table at once.

Tommy also was challenged to a 9 ball match, race to 9, by TAP licensee and 7 handicap, Rich Nace from Rackem Up TAP in Pa. After Rich jumped out to a 2 to 0 lead, Tommy caught that extra gear that pros have and went on to win 9-2. Both players shot great and it was a fun match to watch. In fact, this spur of the moment match was so popular with the TAP railbirds looking on that TAP has decided to add this special challenge match every year at our nationals and at the Rally with any TAP 7 having their name drawn to challenge Tommy..See what you started Rich?

Tommy will once again be at the Rally next March at the TAP sales booth at the Super Billiard Expo in Valley Forge, Pa. at booths 121-122. Stop by and say hello and try your game against one of the best.

I got mine so practice up and come get yours.

We will see you at the Expo!

New areas recently added to the TAP family

Roger Pinder Jr. and his new Shore TAP league in Kent, Talbot and Caroline counties, Maryland

Andrew Paschal and Roger Logan in Fort Bend county, Texas and their league, Lone Star TAP

Victoria Wells in Pinellas county, Florida. The league is Florida Gulf TAP.

Teri Resendez and her Houston Area TAP league

Larry Brumley in Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Brown, Schuyler, Menard, Morgan and Scott counties, Illinois. His new league will be known as CPPN TAP

William "Tyler" Pratt and Kathy Hall and their NRV TAP in Roanoke and Montgomery counties, Virginia

Michelle Keagy and her new league, Safety First TAP in Michigan

Josh Cook and his soon to start TAP leagues in the Raleigh/Durham area as well as in the Charlotte Metro areas in North Carolina.

These new licensees have tried the rest.

Isn't it time you tried the best?

If you think you have what it takes to bring TAP to your area and to break away from the leagues you have been in for so many years, then please call Sam at the TAP sales office at 800-984-7665 ext 2 or call him direct on his cell at 814-525-0687 and let's get you and your players into the best amatuer billiard league in the world.

Our 4 handicaps come in all ages!

FOR THE FIRST TIME in 21 YEARS!!

Opened up to 192 teams!

On a first come, first serve basis. Don't be shut out!

Contact your TAP licensee for entry forms or go to the

TAP web site or on our Facebook page.

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES..... $550 AND A TEAM NAME HOLDS YOUR SPOT

This Is How We Do It

Some Titleholder locations

"TAP....The Rolls Royce of Pool Leagues"

TAPPING AROUND THE LEAGUE

It's a Family Affair in North Coast TAP

TAP licensee Bill Varkonyi (center) with the Nunez family

This was submitted by Bill Varkonyi, our TAP licensee in the Cleveland, Ohio area and his North Coast TAP league.

Edwin Nunez came to me via my website about 18 months ago asking about TAP and saying he wanted to take up playing pool, but he was very close to his family and what is good for him, must also be good for them. To be honest, I wasn't really sure what that meant, but I'd soon find out.

Although already an accomplished musician, Edwin was interested in trying something new and thought pool would fill the need. Since our session was in it's last week, I invited him to visit our tournament at the hotel and see if it was something he may be interested in. Not thinking much more about it, as I make several of those types of invitations, I was pleasantly surprised when not only did Edwin show up, but he brought his wife, Carmen, his son Edwin Jr, his daughter Jackie, and his grandson Noah.

They stayed for hours; talking to players and their families, watching the action, and from time to time, asking questions about the league and TAP organization.

Upon their eventual exit, Edwin approached me and said that his family loved what they had seen and he was interested in becoming a member of the TAP.

I included Edwin on one of my teams the very next session and as an obvious beginner he played the session as a 3 handicap. It was quickly apparent, however, that this was not going to be just a hobby for Edwin. He wanted to learn every aspect of the sport and soaked up every word and experience I could give him and toward the end of the session, Edwin expressed that he felt ready to captain his own team.

Today, not only does Edwin carry a 6 handicap, but he captains three teams including a TAP doubles team along with a TAP 8 ball team which is comprised in part by his wife Carmen, his son Edwin Jr, and his daughter Jackie (who also plays on a all TAP ladies team called Divas of Destruction). A constant sight on Thursday is his grandson Noah, who sometimes comes to league straight from karate class asking when they can go home and practice pool.

In growing closer with this family I have come to respect and admire their closeness, their love and trust in each other, and their complete dedication to each other. Their passion for life goes into everything they do. In a very short time, they have made the North Coast TAP family stronger and I am a better operator today because of them. And it all started with a simple click, a returned email, and a friendly invitation.....Bill Varkonyi..North Coast TAP licensee

Many TAP licensees have seen how the TAP leagues bring family members together for a night out of friendly competition and fun.

North Coast Fall Titleholder Results December 16-19, 2016

8 ball Fall Qualifiers. ($5,000 team trip to TAP nationals in Las Vegas 2017) Rookies Wade.

Our new league, the Greater Mohawk Valley TAP league in New York

recently had their first Christmas party and held a 50/50 with the money going to charity. Cody Perkins was the winner and the money went to the American cancer society, Sauquoit, NY Relay for Life. Pictured are a few of the TAP league members from this area. Great job guys and gals! ... TAP licensee, Tracy Roth

Worcester TAP in Mass.

The Worcester County Tap has officially grown 10 fold! It will be 5 years in March and we have gone from four teams to forty in that time!! We will be sending our first 9 ball team ever to TAP Nationals which is in Vegas this year! We have 3 divisions of 9 ball with fifteen teams! The Ball Busters out of our Milford Wednesday 9 ball division will be headed to the Rally in the Valley at the Super Billiards Expo in PA along with 5th Gear from Milford and Strict-9 from Worcester and two teams from Southbridge that haven't been decided yet.

Exe-cuetors from Greendales Pub in Worcester (pictured above) went to Charleston SC to represent us this year. We will be sending another 8 ball team to Vegas next year (our 4th year sending a team to TAP Nationals).

It's cold in our part of New England now but our hearts are still warm! Merry Christmas from Worcester County!! TAP On!!

Laurie Flaherty

League operator

508-450-2736

worcestercountytap.com

Worcester Tap League on Facebook

L and N TAP in Pa.

League operator, Charlie and Pam Brinkman sent us these pics of their national teams that represented their area at our recent nationals.

Pictured below is Hustlers Hollow 8-Ball Finished 9th-16th Elite Championship Bracket .. Standing left to right

Captain: Steve Searfoss, Kim Searfoss, Eva Peterson, Greg Balliet, Chris Cerniglia, Ryan Dice Kneeling: Stacy Snyder Missing: Tiffany Sebes

Pictured above is Team Jurassis Mine 9-Ball finished 9th-16th Best of The Rest Bracket Kneeling left to right

Sheryl Kalman, Captain: Tom Gibson III, Karen Carter

Standing left to right:

Donato Yambao, Chaz Thatcher, Brian Grube Sr, Brian Grube Jr, Tom Gibson Jr

Looks like everyone had a great time in Charleston!!

Insights from Bristol County TAP, Mass.

Bristol County TAP based in Massachusetts joined the TAP league in January 2016. We have had better participation than we had anticipated just starting up. Thanks to the TAP staff for providing the opportunity to bring a competitive pool league into our area and the tremendous support throughout this venture. In our first year we were able to send a team to National in South Carolina.The players had a great time and were amazed with whole TAP event. We are looking forward to the 2017 Rally in the Valley

This has been a great learning experience for us both the licensees and players. The players have given us much positive feedback with the advantages that TAP offers over other leagues particularly the scoring App and having to call your shot and pocket. We have been able to bring in new players each session based on our members spreading the word to other pool players about TAP. Our biggest obstacle has been player handicaps. Most of the players from our area have played in the other nationally recognized league for many years and are familiar with that scoring system. We continuously work to help players understand that the TAP system accounts for everything that happens during their match not just innings, wins and losses. We look forward to expanding the TAP league in our area. TAP Licensee, John Botello

Howie Walton 2017 King Philip 2016 Spring Session

Rally in the Valley Singles Qualifier

and this little gem from our licensee Jen Adams and her West Coast TAP league in Florida

Roger Cobianco is a member of West Coast TAP. He plays league with us on Tuesdays as well as several other nights of the week. He is a local staple at Capone ' s in Spring Hill, Florida. He is not just a player, he has his own room in the back we call " the cage. " This is where he works his magic. From cleaning shafts, to fixing tips, and everything in-between,

Roger is our go to for any pool needs. He even builds his own cues.

This year we had the honor of bringing Roger to TAP Nationals in Charleston where he won the 9-ball singles for the 4-5 handicap. (photo in the results section) It did not come as much of a surprise to us since he can be found practicing and working on his game everyday. We could not have been more proud him! There is not anyone more deserving of this title than Roger! He is the kind of guy that if you need him, he will drop everything he is doing and be there for you. He puts his friends above himself, and is the most selfless person.

His daughter, Lisa, will be helping him run it so he can still play pool with us.He has been at Capone's for more than 20 years. In that time, he has touched thousands of lives. Throughout all those years there has been countless customers, acquaintances and friends he has made, but not one of them could say a bad word about him. I n case you never get a chance to meet him, I just thought that everyone should know what an amazing person we have as a member of our TAP family. He has such a big, kind heart and there should be a million more people like him in this world, but we know there will never be another Roger Cobianco! Thank you for being a part of our West Coast TAP family and our friend.

Jen Adams, West Coast TAP Licensee

IS YOUR LEAGUE STUCK IN THE 80's DOING THIS?

If so then you need to......

Isn't time you put some color back into

your game & score keeping!!

TAP IS THE ONLY LEAGUE IN THE WORLD WITH

TAP THE APP" CAPABILITIES

The App in action .....Photo by TAP league player, Cyndi Claar

It's not the1980's and "Back to the Future"anymore.

It's 2017 and the future is here!

Be part of the future with TAP and start

"TAPPING the APP!"

The WPBA

U.S. Open at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 21-23, 2017

Don't forget, TAP will have two lady players representing us at this great event. Denise Hill from Tigerland TAP in Louisiana and a player to be determined from Threes Rivers TAP in a tournament to be held early in 2017. A huge shout out to the Rivers Casino for this nice gesture to sponsor one of Pittsburgh's own and to the VP of the WPBA, Belinda Calhoun, for being so great to work with on this venture.

If your in the area, don't forget to stop in and check the action out and to support our TAP members as well as the lady pros. Belinda and the ladies run a very class act event in Pittsburgh.

And ladies.....it's not to early to start qualifying to compete for a 2018 spot in the Open. Our finals will be held in Las Vegas at our nationals next October. Ask your TAP licensee about holding qualifying events in your area.

Watch for our new revamped website

coming in early Spring 2017 !

McDermott Cues

Proud Sponsor of the TAP Rally in the Valley and TAP Nationals

"Swim with the Sharks or Stay out of the Water"

This will be a annual event directed by TAP league operator and TAP's sales director, Sam Rullo and it is open to all leagues and non league players. This is a non handicapped event. And while you are here and if you are not yet a TAP member but you may have a few questions about TAP and what the league has to offer then what better time to talk to Sam and many of the TAP members

competing in Somerset.