Noto’s Rally Propels S33Food Team to Championship Finish
n Bob Burch
staff Writer
Gilroy – A strong rally by second-place finisher Kevin Noto propelled S33FOOD to the championship of the 19-team 2005 No-Limit Texas Halloween Hold ‘Em Tournament Saturday at the Gilroy Senior Center.
Down to one chip with 48 competitors left in the competition, Noto, a Cal State Monterey Bay student, regrouped to make the Final Table and then advance to a one-on-one with poker veteran Dave McCaskey. The 19-hand showdown included two saves by McCaskey with river cards before Noto was defeated.
McCaskey became the third winner in the series of recreational poker events administered by the Gilroy Community Services Department and the Softball Board of Managers.
Consistent play by the four-person team earned the team title to S33FOOD. While Noto was the lone player from the squad to make the final 22, Jarrod Anderson had a strong finish to land in the 23rd spot, End of Summer Showdown runner-up Chad Brownfield was 25 and Dave Stewart settled for 27.
Tawnie Grider earned the top female finisher trophy for the second time in three events.
The Bad Beats finished second in team competition, anchored by final table seats from McCaskey and Stan Yamada. The Untouchables used two final table players, John Hernandez and James Jimenez, to edge the Big Slick for fifth-place awards. Other Final Table participants were Danny DuBois of the Top Dawgs, Sherry Rennard of Guaranty RV and Beverly Kludt of the Lucky Stiffs. The Lucky Stiffs claimed third-place honors, the Top Dawgs fourth.
Other top finishers included Shirley Abruzzini of the Lucky Stiffs (10th), Sonya Dennis of the Big Slick (11) and Kathy DuBois of the Tog Dawgs (12).
The Recreation Poker series continues with the Super Showdown on Saturday Feb. 4.
