Second place finish for Hammerstrom on ‘Jeopardy!’

A former Upper Peninsula resident and Northern Michigan University graduate competing in the Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament correctly answered the Final Jeopardy question Friday night, but it was not enough to claim the top prize of $100,000.

Mary Beth Hammerstrom fell $800 short of first place.

Hammerstrom went into Final Jeopardy in second place with $10,800.  John Pearson was in first place with $18,200.

The final question was about country names, and she was the only person the answer correctly.

She wagered all of her money to bring her two–day total to $32,600.

Pearson answered the question wrong, but did not wager any money.  He finished the tournament with $33,400, winning the grand prize of $100,000.

Hammerstrom does not go away empty handed though: second place wins $50,000.