The B.C. Open 9-Ball Championship was a pool tournament played annually at the Holiday Inn Arena in Binghamton, New York. The event was created and promoted by professional player and promoter Gary Pinkowski. Pinkowski was a Johnson City, New York native. The tournament commenced in the same week as the B.C. Open golf tournament. The inaugural tournament took place from August 28, 1985 to September 2, with a prize of $25,000 awarded to the champion. The following years the champion was awarded $10,000. The event ran until 1990.
During the 1987 B.C. open Jean Balukas was scheduled to play in both the men's and women's events. After arriving at the tournament she learned that there was a dress code for the ladies and not for the men. She did not have formal attire with her and realizing how important a figure she was to the sport she protested the dress code and after a vote by the other participants was not able to play in the women's division. She was hurt by the fact that she was trying to stand up for a cause and the other women, including personal friends, voted against her playing and held the event anyway.
Event winners
Mens Division Year Winner Runner-up 1985 Keith McCready Mike Lebrón 1986 Mike Sigel Mike Lebrón 1987 Jim Rempe Kim Davenport 1988 Dave Bollman Kim Davenport 1989 Mike Sigel (2) Nick Varner 1990 Kim Davenport Mike Sigel
Pro-Am Doubles Division Year Winner 1985 Allen Hopkins / Jack Caprio 1986 Earl Strickland / Joe Inman 1987 Kim Davenport / Johnny Hart 1988 Jimmy Mataya / Joe Probst 1989 Johnny Archer / Rod Curl 1990 Robin Bell / Rod Curl
Ladies Division Year Winner 1987 LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown 1988 LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown (2) 1989 LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown (3) 1990 LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown (4)
References