1st Place - $10,191
Jessica Dawley of Jefferson, Indiana earned the coveted title of “Indiana Ladies State Poker Champion” during the two day event held March 25th and 26th. 23 year old Jessica has been playing penny ante poker with her family since she was 5 years old. At 18, Jessica joined the military and is now employed by the Air force as an Intelligence Analyst. When asked what made her a strong poker player, Jessica replied, “I play by instinct not odds.” In addition to the first place prize money Jessica won a prize package valued at $3000 that includes a seat into the Ladies International Poker Series, Grand Championship in May of 2006 and a seat into the US Ladies Poker Championship which will consist solely of Ladies State Champions from each of the 50 states. To add to the excitement, Jessica has never been to Las Vegas and both events will be held there.

2nd Place - $4,950
Allison Brauer of Milan, TN played an exceptional game and captured the second place spot after pushing all in with her A-10 against Jessica’s K-7. The flop came 77J with no help on the turn or river. Allison placed 2nd in the LIPS event in Tunica, MS. This return to the final table has proven that she is a real contender in the ladies circuit. She aspires to capture a first place title before the end of the year.

3rd Place – $3,203
Sherry Hammond of DePauw, IN is a registered nurse who has been playing poker for 25 years. Her goal as a poker player is to place in the main event at the WSOP. She played a fairly passive game at the start of the final table but came on strong toward the end and played a fantastic game.

4th Place – $2,620
Sheila Lott of Murfreesboro, TN came to the final table as the chip leader after crushing several players at the end of day #1. It was anticipated that she would continue to play strong and dominate the final table. Much to the surprise of the audience, Sheila started the final table playing very cautiously. About an hour into play, Sheila picked up speed and was a force to be reckoned with. Sheila is a certified chef and the mother of a 13 year old son. She plays a lot of online poker and runs her own game at home.

5th Place - $2,183
Gina Kepner of Pendleton, IN started playing poker in home games then moved to small buy-in tournaments. Gina has been playing for just one year and this event was her first major tournament. She had luck on her side, because it was Gina’s birthday. She locked up a very nice $2,183 birthday present.


6th Place - $1,892
Ann Whistler of Chaffee, MO is not new to the world of poker. She has been playing for 25 years. Ann owns 2 pre-schools and tutors high school and college students in math. Ann’s goal is to become the first woman to win the WSOP main event. Of the 3 main events that she has played she has placed in 2 of them, winning $17,000 in the World Poker Open in Tunica, MS.

7th Place - $1,601
Cheryl Baugus of Sand Spring, OK placed 3rd in the Oklahoma Ladies State Poker Championship in March and placed 27th in the WSOP LIPS event in Tunica, MS. She has only been playing a year, but seems to have the natural ability to play well. Having only played in 4 major events she has placed in 3 of them.

8th Place - $1,310
Trudy Veinot of Lexington, KY is a horse trainer who had been watching poker on television and decided that she wanted to play. Two weeks before this event she bought herself a computer and started playing on-line. This was her very first tournament and she played it like a true pro. She was poised and never got frazzled. When faced with big “all in decisions” she made the right call. Even at end when she called an all in bet with pocket 5’s, she went in with the best hand but just got unlucky.

9th Place - $1,164
Daphne Barr of Payneville, KY is a middle school counselor whose goal is to play in the main event at the WSOP. She has been playing poker for just over a year and was lucky enough to get a Royal Flush and Quad Aces in the same tournament.