MOBILE – Jennifer Townsend, Henry Gornowicz, Andy Schneider and Brandi Turner qualified for the American Poolplayers Association’s (APA) 2016 8-Ball Classic by winning in regional competition March 5 in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Townsend, Gornowicz, Schneider and Turner will be joining amateur pool players from throughout North America to compete in the world’s most rewarding 8-Ball singles championship—cash and prizes totaling $280,000 are guaranteed to be awarded.

Townsend, Gornowicz, Schneider and Turner are members of the APA and participate in weekly League play at various establishments in Baldwin and Mobile counties. The 8-Ball Classic is conducted annually by the APA.

APA members who compete in the 8-Ball Classic become eligible by entering and winning a local qualifying tournament. Local winners advance to the regional level where they compete in one of five Skill Level Tiers. Regional winners from each Skill Level Tier advance to the national event where they compete with others within their skill level category. Five Champions—one from each of the five Skill Level Tiers—will be crowned at the event being held in Las Vegas at the Westgate Resort & Casino April 29-May 1. Last year, more than 34,000 8-Ball shooters qualified to play in the regional event. All players pay a one-time entry fee of $20.

The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. More than 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9-Ball League play.

The APA produces three major tournaments each year. The APA World Pool Championships, the APA Poolplayer Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship-that, together, pay out nearly $1.5 Million in cash and prizes annually. In 2010, the APA World Pool Championships were recognized by Guinness World Records as the “world’s largest pool tournament.”

The APA and its championships are sponsored by Pool Dawg, Aramith and Action Cues. For more information or to get signed up with the APA, please contact Dan or April Shepherd at 251-219-8902 or by email at gulfcoast@apaleagues.com. Or you can visit the official APA website at:  American Poolplayers Association