Scott Caudill Wins the Spring 2006 Hickory Poker Showdown

With a pair of Aces and a better kicker, Scott Caudill knocked out Jeffrey White
to win the Spring 2006 Hickory Poker Showdown on Saturday, March 4th.
They were the last of fifty-two benefactors who played No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em
in a charity fundraiser for Junior Achievement. 

Mr. White was the chip leader for much of the tournament.  Despite having learned
to play the game the night before, he knocked out ten other players and brought
an intimidating chip stack to the final.table.  His luck faded, however, and he finally
surrendered the last of his chips to Mr. Caudill as the clock approached midnight.

The last two tournament champions also made the final table but fell short in
their quest for another title.  Taft Love, the Grand Champion of the Spring 2005
event, finished in fourth place.  Andrea Miskell, winner of the Fall 2005
tournament, finished fifth. 

In addition to the trophies and bragging rights, participants also won prizes donated by
local merchants.  Prizes were awarded in a raffle in compliance with North Carolina’s
gaming laws.

Other notables in the tournament include Mayor Rudy Wright, who made it more than
two-thirds of the way through the field but eventually went all-in and lost
his chips to Jim Cannon.  After earning bragging rights for knocking out the Mayor,

Mr. Cannon went on to his second consecutive final table and finished in seventh place.

The final table consisted of:

Scott Caudill – Grand Champion

Jeffrey White – First Runner-Up

Karl Bridgeman – Second Runner-Up

Taft Love – Fourth Place

Andrea Miskell – Fifth Place

Tom “Tom Kat” Marcum – Sixth Place

Jim Cannon – Seventh Place

Also winning were students in Catawba County.  Players in the tournament contributed
over $4,000 to support Catawba County Junior Achievement.

Full-time physician and part-time volunteer poker dealer Will Smith (far left) prepares for the
flop just after the start of the tournament.  Neil Reece (third from right, in white), another
local physician, made the final table in each of the previous tournaments but fell short this time.

Junior Achievement board member Carrie Regan (center left, in white) smiles and deals.

Marsha Diamonti finishes the initial deal at table 7, which hosted eventual Grand
Champion Scott Caudill (far side of table, on the left).

Daniel Prestwood (far left) deals at this table at the beginning of the tournament.

David Fortin (center right) was an early chip leader.

On his way to winning the tournament, Scott Caudill won this hand with quad fives.

Claire Love’s lucky cigar held up for most of the tournament.

The final table is set:  From left to right are Andrea Miskell, Jeffrey White, Karl Bridgeman
(in front), Tom Marcum, Taft Love, and Scott Caudill.  Not pictured is Jim Cannon,
who returned for his second consecutive final table.

Jim Cannon (right) finished in seventh place.  He’s shown here with his friend Johnny Icard,
who won the first Hickory Poker Showdown.

Andrea Miskell (center) finished in fifth place.  Tom Marcum (right) finished sixth.  They’re
shown here receiving their awards from Junior Achievement District Director Allison Tymko.

Taft Love went all-in with Ace-Ten but lost to Jeffrey White’s triple threes.

Taft is used to receiving awards – he was the Grand Champion in the Spring 2005
tournament.  He’s shown here with his father Bill Love, who finished in fifth place in the
Spring 2005 Showdown.

Karl Bridgeman went all-in with a suited Ace-Eight.  Scott Caudill paired his king, leaving
Karl with the second runner-up’s trophy.

It was still a good night for Mr. Bridgeman, shown here collecting his trophy from
Allison Tymko.

With most of his chips already in the pot, Jeffrey White went all-in on an up-and-down straight
draw.  The board produced two aces and a king but could not finish Jeffrey’s straight, and

Scott Caudill’s queen kicker held up to end the tournament and win him the championship.

First Runner-Up Jeffrey White (left) and Grand Champion Scott Caudill with their trophies.  (Note: 
It’s all play money – no cash or prizes are awarded based on the results of the tournament).