ROSMALEN - Both in three cushion and in free game, the best European ladies are playing for the European Ladies Cup this weekend (17-19 June) in De Hazelaar in Rosmalen, Netherlands. Most European women top players come tot he tables in the tournament that is organized to replacet he European championship. Therese Klompenhouwer, world champion and European champion, is the favorite in three cushion.
The Dutch star player will meet among others Gülsen Degener, Jamie Buelens, Danielle le Bruyn, Karina Jetten and Ausegul Fendi. Sixteen players are divieded in groups of four in the preliminary rounds. They play to 25 caroms in the qualifications and 30 in the knockout.
Therese Klompenhouwer is happy with this tournament. ,,We are not spoiled with many ladies tournaments now that the European championship has disappeared from the calendar. We all really hope that the EC will come back in the coming years.'' The World championship for ladies is in August this year. Therese: ,,The European Cup is a good preparation. I don't go for a holiday this year, so I try to practice every day as much as I can. And I play the World Cup in Porto as a last test for the World championship.''
The European tournament in De Hazelaar is from Friday to Sunday (final 15.00) in both game types. The winner will receive 400 Euros, the runner 300. The total prize money in both tournaments is 1600 euros.
Therese Klompenhouwer tops the list in three-cushion ahead of Gülsen Degener and Helga Mitterböck. In free game, the leader of the European rankings, Susanne Stengel-Ponsing from Germany had to cancel due to family circumstances.
The group formats:
Three cushion:
Group A:
Therese Klompenhouwer (Neth)
Guzin Mujde Karakasli (Tur)
Gerrie Geelen (Neth)
Veronika Krausova (Cz)
Group B:
Gülsen Degener (Tur)
Karina Jetten (Neth)
Sabrina Mölzer (Aus)
Irena Hambalkova (Cz)
Group C:
Helga Mitterböck (Den)
Danielle le Bruyn (Bel)
Aysegul Fendi (Tur)
Loes van Dansik (Neth)
Group D:
Marianne Mortensen (Den)
Jaimie Buelens (Bel)
Monique Wilkowski (Neth)
Sylvia Eckel (Neth)
Free game:
Group A:
Marieke Jonkergouw-Mulders (Neth)
Daisy Werdekker (Neth)
Monika Steinberger (Aus)
Francine van Yperen (Neth)
Group B:
Heike Hingerl (Aus)
Mirjam Pruim-Emmens (Neth)
Monique van Exter (Neth)
Harmie Evenhuis (Neth).