Retired Builder Bulldozes Opposition To Scoop Hi-Lo Title
"I really enjoy playing poker tournaments -- they're fun and very competitive," said Pat Enos shortly after mowing down the last of 151 opponents to capture first place in the fourth event of the 2000 California State Poker Championship. For making top place in the $300 buy-in stud high low split eight or better contest, Enos was awarded $18,240 in prize money and a custom-designed CSPC "World" trophy to commemorate his victory.
This is the first CSPC title for Enos, a 52-year-old retired single family homebuilder from Aliso Viejo, California. Originally from Hawaii, Enos has cashed in numerous other major tournaments, including the L.A. Poker Classic, and captured the Best All-Around Player award at Foxwood's 1995 World Poker Finals.
When the final table convened, Enos was in good chip position and lurked in the background, biding his time while the other players battled back and forth. The first to be eliminated was Hieu "Tony" Ma of El Monte, California, who was shot down in eighth place for $912 when he raised on third street with K-K/7 and was called by Roman Abinsay, who held 3-3/6. Ma bet all in on fourth street and still had the high on sixth street with his kings. But Abinsay, whose board showed 6-6-4-A, caught a deuce on the river to scoop the pot with a wheel and a six-high straight.
Enos soon began to catch some cards and was now on the move. After splitting several pots, he was dealt A-6/3 and raised. Amir Vahedi reraised, John Napoli of Clearwater, Florida, made it three bets to go with K-4/K, Enos called, and Vahedi wisely folded. When Enos poised his ace on fourth street, he bet out and Napoli, who'd come to the final table as the chip leader, called all in. But he failed to improve his kings or make a low and was forced to settle for seventh place and $1,368.
A few hands later, Enos dispatched two players in one fell swoop when he called on third street with 10-2/10 against J.J. Volpe, who had raised all in with 8-8/A, and Steve Simmons, who called with 6-3/A. On fourth street, Enos made trip 10s and bet out. Simmons caught a four for a low draw and called all in. But neither Volpe nor Simmons improved, and Enos took down the pot. Volpe of Redlands, California, pocketed $1,824 for his sixth-place finish, and Simmons of Scottsdale, Arizona, took home fifth place money of $2,280.
After surviving a few all-in battles, Amir Vahedi of Reseda, California, finally bit the dust in fourth place for $2,736 when he raised on third street with 5-3/10 and was reraised by David Pham, who held 8-6/6. Vahedi called, then bet all in on fourth street. But he failed to even pair or make a low, and Pham scooped the pot with his measly pair of sixes.
With three players left, Enos had most of the chips on the table, but knocking out his final two opponents proved tougher than anticipated. Managing to stay alive through nine all-in confrontations, Roman Abinsay of Stockton, California, played his last hand when he raised all in on third street with J-6/8 and Enos called with 10-6/10. On fourth street, Enos made trip 10s for the second crucial time, and when Abinsay failed to catch, he went down for the count in third place for $4,560.
A 52-year-old poker pro who is retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, Abinsay has previously cashed in numerous major competitions. He placed second out of 1,085 entrants in the opening event of the 1999 Orleans Open and recently cashed twice in this year's World Series of Poker, finishing second in the $2,000 buy-in limit hold 'em tournament and sixth in the $10,000 buy-in no limit hold 'em championship.
When heads-up play began, Enos held a 6-to-1 advantage over runner up David Pham, who proved to have even more lives than Abinsay. It was almost 30 minutes before Pham was finally forced all in for the ante with J-2/3 against Enos' Q-10/6. Enos paired his doorcard on fourth street, and when Pham failed to catch, Enos claimed the pot and the title with this own measly pair of sixes.
For his runner-up finish, Pham of Bell Gardens, California, received $9,120. A 33-year-old professional player, Pham has cashed in numerous major tournaments in the five years he has been competing. He has made 14 final tables this year alone.
"I'm really happy to win this event," Enos said. "Once I got to the final table, my main goal was to qualify for Mike Sexton's Tournament of Champions. Now that I have, I'm really looking forward to playing in it."
THE FINAL TABLE:
| Seat/Player | Chip Count |
| Seat 1: Pat Enos (Aliso Viejo, CA) | $11,800 |
| Seat 2: David Pham (Bell Gardens, CA) | $13,900 |
| Seat 3: Roman Abinsay (Stockton, CA) | $5,600 |
| Seat 4: Amir Vahedi (Reseda, CA) | $8,900 |
| Seat 5: John Napoli (Clearwater, FL) | $15,600 |
| Seat 6: J.J. Volpe (Redlands, CA) | $4,700 |
| Seat 7: Tony Ma (El Monte, CA) | $10,800 |
| Seat 8: Steve Simmons (Scottsdale, AZ) | $4,700 |
Best All-Around Players:
Top 11 Points Leaders
| 1. Mike Petracca | 82 |
| 2. Julio Anicete | 64 |
| 3. Spring Cheong | 64 |
| 4. Carl Heller | 56 |
| 5. J.J. Volpe | 56 |
| 6. John Juanda | 50 |
| 7. Pat Enos | 50 |
| 8. Benjamin Tang | 44 |
| 9. Betty Applegate | 44 |
| 10. Steve Hohn | 44 |
| 11. David Pham | 44 |
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