A third U.S. Women’s Amateur Pool Championship trophy is heading to Franklin County.

Orange’s Stacie Bourbeau won her first U.S. Women’s Amateur Pool Championship in 2015 and brought home her second championship trophy last year in Tampa, Fla. As the defending champion, Bourbeau earned an automatic bid to the 2023 championship and flew to Orlando earlier this month to compete.

Just like last year, it was a smashing success for Bourbeau. 

The Orange native lost one match during the double-elimination tournament at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, making her way to the finals where she defeated Krystal Depelsmaeker of Croswell, Mich., 9-1 in the final to record her third amateur championship. 

“It was very surprising to win again,” Bourbeau said. “They’re short races in this tournament. A lot of times each game is a coin flip and a lot of times the better player doesn’t actually win. It’s so surprising to have won it two years in a row. I never would have expected that.” 

Bourbeau is the first woman to capture back-to-back championships while becoming the second ever to win the amateur title three times. 

“I’m so thankful and have so much appreciation to have found this weird talent,” Bourbeau said. “It’s not a common thing. I’m so thankful for the opportunities it has provided me. I’m just so appreciative I found this.” 

Bourbeau opened things with three wins on the tournament’s opening day. The second day of the tournament saw her lose her opening match to Christy Norris of Cameron, N.C., complicating her mission to repeat as champion. 

“That loss cost me three extra matches to make it back to the finals,” Bourbeau said. “I just played terribly. A couple mistakes cost me and it was an insurmountable hill to climb. With it being a short race, it was a coin flip. She wasn’t giving me a lot of opportunities.” 

Bourbeau fought her way through to make it back to the semifinals by winning back-to-back matches. Waiting for her in the semis? A rematch against Norris.

The defending champ played much better the second time around, racing away with a 5-1 victory to reach the finals. Norris ended up settling for third. 

“I stayed steady,” Bourbeau said. “My nerves were getting to me this time. Usually they don’t. I was shaking and I had to take time to calm down. Even with the shakes I made some long, tedious shots I never imagined I would make.” 

Waiting for Bourbeau in the finals was Depelsmaeker, a young, up-and-comer who Bourbeau faced in the 2022 finals and has developed a good relationship with. 

While the other matches were first to five wins, the finals match is longer and requires nine wins to secure the title. Bourbeau had the match of her life, running away with a 9-1 victory to win the championship. 

“I played one of my best live matches I’ve ever had,” Bourbeau said. “I was surprisingly steady toward the end. The first three games I was shaking like a leaf. Once I got a lead and smelled fear on the other side I was able to calm down and go win it.

“I told [Depelsmaeker] that you get nervous and I get nervous, too,” Bourbeau added. “That's the way it is. You have to remind yourself the world doesn’t end if you lose this match. That’s how my mind works.”

When you’re the defending champ, the rest of the field is going to be gunning for you. 

As it worked out for Bourbeau, she was placed on a side of the bracket that kept her away from some of the strongest competitors in the tournament, helping her claim a second straight title.

“I’ve seen comments from other players talking about how they were going to dethrone me next year,” Bourbeau said. “I really didn’t see myself winning a second, three I could never imagine. This year was different than last year. Last year I had to get through the best players in the tournament. This year I never ran into two of what I consider three of the better players in the tournament.”

One adjustment Bourbeau had to make was playing on larger-sized pool tables, different than the typical ones found at bars.

“Since they changed the location from last year they changed the tables,” Bourbeau said. “They used the same tables they used for pro events. I don't play on big tables often. It seems like I shouldn’t be able to perform on them. Add to that the pockets were significantly smaller than the nine footers I play on and that gets in my head. It didn't really faze me this time.” 

As was the case last year, Bourbeau automatically qualified for the 2024 tournament, which is also scheduled to take place in Orlando. Bourbeau will also be able to compete in a pro event, though she hasn’t chosen which one she will play in.

Until then, you can still catch Bourbeau playing in the local league at Smitty’s Pub in Greenfield.