Fall Final Tournament Results

Dakota Poker Leaguers gathered for the fall championship tournament at Playmakers Sports Bar in Fargo. Players on the final table pictured are Tom Parkman-Elks Lodge, Sheri Olson-Proz End of the Line & Ryan Koffler-Borrowed Bucks-Fargo.

The cards were in the air shortly after noon on Sunday, 92 out of 93 qualified players showed up from around the state. The venue was Playmakers Pavillion, which provided an amazing atmosphere for the championship event. Special thanks to Skogie & Playmakers for providing very nice consolation prizes and for the outstanding service.

Nobody busted out of the initial round and you could sense a lot of tension on the felt. Every table was a tough table as this tournament was packed with solid players.

The action seemed tight to start and it took quite a while before the first players busted out. After the first break, the action picked up and we witnessed player after player go down.

The first big hand of the day featured Tara Heisenfelt, Chuck Haugvedt and Terry Linde. Tara held pocket 10's, Chuck pocket 8's and Terry was holding the nut straight with Q-9 when the board came J-8-10. What a flop! As you can imagine, all three players "got 'em in there". Terry surely had the lead but would need to survive the turn and the river without pairing the board to hold on. The turn was a blank but the river did pair the board giving Tara & Chuck each a full-house - and suddenly Terry had the worst hand. Tara Heisenfelt took this huge pot and the early tournament lead.

Another player who got off to a fast start was Tom Habadank. He was on table 4 which was moving the most chips early. Tom was the chip leader at the end of the first break with 42,300.

Jim Nelson
Midway Tavern-Bismarck

Jeremy Finady
Down Under Pub-G.F.

Poker is a family sport! There were two husband-wife players in the tournament and one mother-daughter combination. Dave & Sharon Vanlaere from the Elks Lodge-Fargo qualified, as did Dick & Sheri Olson from Proz End of the Line-Devils Lake. Sheryl Yocom and her daughter Erica McCauley from The Original Bar-Minot (pictured left) also made the trip. Erica had a fantastic showing and ended up at the final table placing 9th place.

There were some crazy hands. Just before the dinner break we witnessed an Ace-high flush split the pot when a card on the river made a straight flush on the board. Unbelievable.

Erica McCauley & Sheryl Yocom
Original Bar-Minot

When the final table was set, Tom Habedank (M&J Saloon) was the chip leader with 191,000 in chips. Sheri Olson (Proz End of the Line) let out a big "wa-hoo!" as she took down huge pots and was the crowd favorite with a following from Devils Lake. She showed down with pocket aces twice in a short span that put her 2nd in chips at 134,500. Ryan Koffler (Bucks-Fargo) was right behind with 122,500. Cam Millang (Stadium II-Bottineau) was the only other player over the century mark at this point.

Chip counts to begin final table
Seat 1	Sheri Olson (Proz-Devils Lake)	134,500
Seat 2	Jamie Stewart (Bucks-Bismarck)	27,000
Seat 3	Erica McCauley (Original Bar-Minot)	72,500
Seat 4	Shawn Olauson (Captain's Pub-Valley City)	82,500
Seat 5	Chris Liepke (Million Dollar Lanes-Williston)	37,500
Seat 6	Justin Larson (Knickerbocker-Hickson)	96,000
Seat 7	Tom Habedank (M&J Saloon)	191,000
Seat 8	Ryan Koffler (Bucks-Fargo)	122,500
Seat 9	Cam Millang (Stadium II-Bottineau)	103,500
Seat 10	Tom Parkman (Elks Lodge-Fargo)	26,000

The play on the final table was fast and furious. The players were going for it and not hesitating to put their chips at risk...To begin play 3-handed, Sheri Olson had the chip lead only for it to slip away in one huge hand which went to Ryan Koffler. That was the turning point of the match. Once Ryan had the momentum in this tournament there was no stopping him. He went unchallenged for several hands and when we took a break he had built up a commanding lead with 642,000 in chips versus Tom Parkman (pictured above) 150,000 and Sheri Olson 131,000. Sheri eventually busted out in third place, winning a $330 seat to a Heartland Poker Tour event and a Budweiser mirror. The very next hand Tom Parkman busted out and we had a winner (winning hand pictured right).

Ryan Koffler played a great tournament, start to finish. He is excited to be representing Dakota Poker League at the Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas and will be traveling with his fiance Lindsay. We wish him the best of luck and if he plays like he did in this tournament we just might seem him on the final table in this World Poker Tour event!

More Photos from the final event

Ryan Koffler
DPL Fall 2005 - Champion
Borrowed Bucks - Fargo

Sheri Olson
Proz End of The Line-Devils Lake
"Crowd Favorite"

Final Table

Shannon Nordick
Elks Lodge-Fargo

Pat Moon
Playmakers

Cam Millang
Stadium II - Bottineau

Shane Olhauser (Center)
Midway Tavern-Bismarck

Chris Liepke
Million Dollar Lanes-Williston
10th Place

Placed in Top 20
1	Ryan Koffler	Borrowed Bucks-Fargo
2	Tom Parkman	Elks Lodge-Fargo
3	Sheri Olson	Proz End of The Line-Devils Lake
4	Tom Habedank	M & J Saloon
5	Shawn Olauson	Captain's Pub-Valley City
6	Justin Larson
7	Cam Millang	Stadium II-Bottineau
8	Jamie Stewart	Borrowed Bucks-Bismarck
9	Erica McCauley	The Original Bar-Minot
10	Chris Liepke	Million Dollar Lanes-Williston
11	Shannon Nordick	Elks Lodge-Fargo
12	Kory Skoog	Elks Lodge-Fargo
13	Robert Knudsvig	South Gate-Grand Forks
14	RJ Olson	Playmakers-Fargo
15	Patrick Moon	Playmakers-Fargo
16	Tom Rhodes	Silver Dollar-Mandan
17	Doug Black	Playmakers-Fargo
18	Matt Walter	Old Broadway-Fargo
19	Harry Samuelson	Down Under Pub-Grand Forks
20	Jim Nelson	Midway Tavern-Bismarck

Playmakers Sports Bar, Fargo (Map) Pavillion	Sunday, December 4th 1 Day Tournament Registration Begins @ 11:00am Dealing @ 12:00PM; Late Registration up to 2 hours Structure: 10,000 starting chips 30 minute blinds
Spectators are welcome! Come out and cheer on your friends and enjoy the side tournaments (free play only!) and the atmosphere only Playmakers can deliver. See hotel specials below.
Qualifer List	Establishment	City	League Pts
Donald Braun*	Captain's Pub	Valley City, ND	849 pts
Gina Deutsch*	M & J Saloon	West Fargo, ND	1433 pts
Jamie Stewart*	Borrowed Bucks-Tues	Bismarck, ND	896 pts
Mike Woodruff*	Hagge's Bar & Grill	Mapleton, ND	1152 pts
Dan Johnson*	Main Bar	Bismarck, ND	958 pts
Tom Rhodes*	Silver Dollar	Mandan, ND	729 pts
Travis Joritz*	Bucks-Mondays	Bismarck, ND	724 pts
Josh Haugen*	Elks Lodge	Fargo, ND	1892 pts
Kory Skoog*	Elks Lodge	Fargo, ND	1161 pts
Chad Krump*	Fort Saloon	Abercrombie, ND	788 pts
Josh Nelson*	Playmakers	Fargo, ND	1147 pts
Gregg Kosel*	Playmakers	Fargo, ND	1116 pts
Jim Nelson*	Midway Tavern	Bismarck, ND	921 pts
Ralph Matthews*	Proz End of the Line	Devils Lake, ND	745 pts
Chris Liepke*	Million Dollar Lanes	Williston, ND	930 pts
Dustin Kopecky*	T's Shamrock	Casselton, ND	705 pts
Clayton Dilly*	Bucks-Fargo	Fargo, ND	1191 pts
Corey Eslinger*	West Fargo VFW	West Fargo, ND	869 pts
Mike Foley**	West Fargo VFW	West Fargo, ND	853 pts
Ryan Kemnitz*	South Gate-Tues	Grand Forks, ND	1339 pts
Chris Goetz**	South Gate-Tues	Grand Forks, ND	1237 pts
Stephanie Issendorf*	Knickerbocker	Hickson, ND	992 pts
Jon Fuglestad**	Knickerbocker	Hickson, ND	951 pts
Robert Knudsvig*	South Gate-Sunday	Grand Forks, ND	784 pts
Jason Carluen*	Bucks-G.F.	Grand Forks, ND	951 pts
Jeremy Finnady*	Down Under Pub	Grand Forks, ND	977 pts
Jason Hunt*	Old Broadway	Fargo, ND	896 pts
Bob Barreth	Main Bar	Bismarck, ND	618 pts
Howard Burns	Midway Tavern	Bismarck, ND	722 pts
Jesse Steiner*	Champs Sports	Dickinson, ND	641 pts
Stuart Savelkoul	Champs Sports	Dickinson, ND	508 pts
Myron Meidenger	Main Bar	Bismarck, ND	595 pts
Shane Olhauser	Midway Tavern	Bismarck, ND	773 pts
Jeff Mitelski	Lonesome Dove	Mandan, ND	513 pts
Stan Benson	Bucks-Bismarck	Bismarck, ND
Chad Falcon	Bucks-Bismarck	Bismarck, ND
Lesley Jahner	Bucks-Bismarck	Bismarck, ND
Jeremy Rose	Bucks-Bismarck	Bismarck, ND	583 pts
Robert Ureatsch	Bucks-G.F.	Grand Forks, ND
Chris Garceau	Southgate	Grand Forks, ND
Charlie Engen	Southgate	Grand Forks, ND
Manny Hernandez	Down Under Pub	Grand Forks, ND
Sheri Olson	Proz End of The Line	Devils Lake, ND
Harry Samuelson	Down Under Pub	Grand Forks, ND
Brody Johnson	Southgate	Grand Forks, ND
Terry Linde	Proz End of The Line	Devils Lake, ND
Dick Olson	Proz End of The Line	Devils Lake, ND
Brad Klindt	Bucks-G.F.	Grand Forks, ND
Derrick Aemissegger	Southgate	Grand Forks, ND
Cam Millang	Stadium II	Bottineau, ND	481 pts
Sheryl Yocom	Original Bar	Minot, ND	433 pts
Erica McCauley	Original Bar	Minot, ND	418 pts
Keith Fulsebakke	Stadium II	Bottinuea, ND	401 pts
Don Haagenson	Million Dollar Lanes	Williston, ND	696 pts
Erik Sell	Victory Lane	Jamestown, ND	563 pts
Donna Donley	Hagge's	Mapleton, ND	814 pts
Ryan Koffler	Bucks-Fargo	Fargo, ND	518 pts
Troy Stone	Bucks-Fargo	Fargo, ND	643 pts
Dave Moe	West Fargo VFW	West Fargo, ND	830 pts
Matt Mueller	M & J Saloon	West Fargo, ND	708 pts
Dennis Killoran	Old 10 Saloon	Buffalo, ND	488 pts
Linda Brown	Victory Lane	Jamestown, ND	537 pts
Marshall Boom	Captain's Pub	Valley City, ND	634 pts
Adam Kielb	Bucks-Fargo	Fargo, ND	552 pts
Ron Moser	Captain's Pub	Valley City, ND	639 pts
Joe Kelly	Bucks-Fargo	Fargo, ND	596 pts
Tom Habedank	M & J Saloon	West Fargo, ND	705 pts
Justin McNicholas*	Bison Turf	Fargo	539 pts
Calvin Kopecky	T's Shamrock	Casselton, ND
Kyle Marple	M & J Saloon	West Fargo, ND	884 pts
Shawn Olauson	Captain's PUb	Valley City, ND	545 pts
Jerry Metteson	Bucks-Fargo	Fargo, ND	686 pts
Ryan Stafford	T's Shamrock	Casselton, ND	590 pts
Tarah Heisonfelt	Trophy's	Wahpeton, ND
Tony Somphet	Elks Lodge	Fargo, ND
Karl Johnson	Fort Saloon	Abercrombie, ND
Dave Vanlaere	Elks Lodge	Fargo, ND
Sharon Vanlaere	Elks Lodge	Fargo, ND
Pete Bushey	Old Broadway	Fargo, ND
Donna Meyer	Trophy's	Wahpeton, ND
Patrick Moon	Playmakers	Fargo, ND
Justin Larson	Knickerbocker	Hickson, ND
Tom Parkman	Elks Lodge	Fargo, ND
Matt Walter	Old Broadway	Fargo, ND
Randy Ahmann	Elks Lodge	Fargo, ND
Danielle Werth	Playmakers	Fargo, ND
Ron Vig	Fort Saloon	Abercrombie, ND
RJ Olson	Playmakers	Fargo, ND
Chuck Haugtvedt	Elks Lodge	Fargo, ND
Doug Black	Playmakers	Fargo, ND
Shannon Nordick	Elks Lodge	Fargo, ND
Dale Otremba	Old Broadway	Fargo, ND
Josh Ackerman	Slammer's	Fargo, ND