BC Open
The B.C. Open was a pool tournament played annually at the Holiday Inn Arena in Binghamton, New York. The event was created and promoted by professional player and promoter Gary Pinkowski; Pinkowski was a Johnson City, New York native. The tournament commenced in the same week as the B.C. Open golf tournament. The inaugural tournament took place in the period August 28, 1985 - September 2, 1985 with a purse of $82,000, $25,000 to the champion. The 1985 B.C. Open featured 9 out of the top 10 ranked players in the world and 24 of the top 50. The B.C. Open continued annually through the early 1990s.
Controversy
It is rumored that 1985 winner Keith McCready owed promoter Gary Pinkowski money so when he won the event Pinkowski took an undisclosed amount out of his purse.
During the 1987 B.C. open, the greatest female player in the world at the time, Jean "the Queen" Balukas was scheduled to play in both the men's and women's events. After arriving at the tournament she learned that there was a dress code for the ladies and not for the men. She did not have formal attire with her and realizing how important a figure she was to the sport she protested the dress code and after a vote by the other participants was not able to play in the women's division. She was hurt by the fact that she was trying to stand up for a cause and the other women, including personal friends, voted against her playing and held the event anyway.
BC open Champions
Men's Champion
Women's Champion
Pro-Am Champions