by Lea Andrews

After a setback in the first set of the finals of the April 17-18 Great Southern Billiard Tour stop, Marty “Flawless” Free turned the tables on Mike Templeton to become the last man standing. Free, Templeton, and 42 others arrived at the newly opened Slate Billiards in Greenwood, SC, for the $1,500-added A/B amateur event.

B-ranked Free edged past A-ranked Dennis Spears 7-7 to reach the hot seat match. Spears, who was racing to 9, moved west, while Free moved on to B-ranked junior player Tyler Mayfield, who recently celebrated his 16th birthday. Mayfield had gotten past B-ranked TJ Seabolt 7-4, but he managed just one game against Free, and he moved over to the semifinals.

On the left side of the bracket, recent winner Mike Basha took care of fellow B player Derrick Horn 7-2 to face JR Poste, who’d ousted A-ranked Glen Russell 7-7. Putting Poste in seventh 7-3, Basha moved on to Seabolt, where his hopes of putting another notch in his GSBT belt ended 7-2. Meanwhile, Templeton, an early 7-4 victim of Mayfield’s, had gone on to knock aside B players Wesley Stokes 7-5 and Brian Wise 7-4.

After a setback in the first set of the finals of the April 17-18 Great Southern Billiard Tour stop, Marty “Flawless” Free turned the tables on Mike Templeton to become the last man standing.

Results:
1st Marty Free $1,000
2nd Mike Templeton $500
3rd Tyler Mayfield $300
4th TJ Seabolt $200
5th Mike Basha $100
Dennis Spears
7th JR Poste $40
Brian Wise

by Lea Andrews

Jeff Jordan hit a late bump in the road thanks to Mike Templeton, but he regained control for ultimate victory on the Great Southern Billiards Tour. Jordan and Templeton were among the field of 57 who vied for their share of the $1,500-added purse April 10-11 at Classic Billiards in Conyers, GA.

B-ranked Jordan rode a strong 7-6 win over AA-ranked Jesse Middlebrook, who was racing to 10, into the hot seat match, where he met Mike Templeton for the first time. B-ranked Templeton, who’d just gotten past A-ranked Josh Newman 7-7, managed just four games against Jordan.

On the other side of the bracket, Jordan’s A-ranked brother, Randy, took care of fellow A-player Claude Marrier 9-6 to face recent winner Mike Basha, who’d just blown past A-ranked Jason Jones 9-2. Dealing Basha a 9-5 blow, R. Jordan moved on to Middlebrook, who took control of the match to earn his spot in the quarterfinals 10-1. Meanwhile, another AA-ranked player, Brian White, was storming through the field, ousting A-players Aaron Frady 10-7 and Floyd Reasons 10-5 to meet up with Newman, whom he blew past 10-2 to face Middlebrook. It was the second time the two had met this tournament, and while Middlebrook had come out on top 10-5 the first time, White earned his revenge and the semifinal spot 10-7. But in the semifinal match, Templeton was fighting for his own rematch, and he got it with a decisive 7-5 victory.

In the first set of the true double-elimination final match, Templeton found himself on top of another 7-5 match, putting the two on equal footing, but in the second set, it was Jordan who came out on top as he won the set and the tournament 7-5.

Jeff Jordan hit a late bump in the road thanks to Mike Templeton, but he regained control for ultimate victory on the Great Southern Billiards Tour.

by Lea Andrews

While head coach Sean Payton was leading the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl victory at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, another Payton—Roy—was finishing up an undefeated weekend at Zoo City Saloon in Asheboro, NC. He did so at the expense of the field of 30 who gathered February 6-7 for the $1,500-added Great Southern Billiards Tour event.

B-ranked Payton got past fellow B-player Jeff Baumgarner 7-2 to reach the hot seat match against A-ranked Tony Morrison, who’d gotten by A-ranked Kevin Boggs 9-7. In the weighted race for the hot seat, though Payton notched one less game, he scored the win 7-8.

On the one-loss side, B-ranked Charles “Cotton” Trivett eased by B-ranked Robert Ash 7-3 to meet up with Paul Mullins, who’d ousted fellow A-player Sidney Champion 9-7. After taking care of Mullins 7-4, Trivett moved on to Baumgarner. Meanwhile, B-ranked James Blackburn held B-ranked Joe Edmonds to three games to face Mike Basha, who’d held fellow B-player Tony Williams to four games. Edging out Basha 7-6, Blackburn advanced to Boggs, but landed in fifth after managing just two games. In the quarterfinals, Boggs met Baumgarner, who’d put Trivett in fifth 7-5, and though Boggs managed to reach his hill of 8 games, Baumgarner marked up the final rack, earning his spot in the semifinals 7-8. There he found himself in another tight hill-hill match with an A-player, which, fortunately for Baumgarner, yielded the same result—he put Morrison in third 7-8 to get his rematch with Payton in the finals.

In the true double-elimination final match, Payton could afford to get behind or even lose the first set, but he hadn’t lost a set all weekend, and he wasn’t about to start. After jumping out to a two-game lead, Payton stayed in front, and when Baumgarner missed his chance to tie it up by scratching on the 5 ball at 6-5, Payton took ball in hand and the final rack to earn his win 7-5.

While head coach Sean Payton was leading the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl victory at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, another Payton—Roy—was finishing up an undefeated weekend at Zoo City Saloon in Asheboro, NC.

by Lea Andrews

Though many tried, no man was up to the task of derailing Kenny Wilson on his way to the ultimate victory at the January 16-17 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour. The $1,500-added A/B amateur event drew 55 players to World Cup Billiards in Greenville, SC.

B-ranked Wilson rode a strong 7-1 win over A-ranked Dale Philips into the hot seat match, where he met A-ranked Sean Davis, who’d gotten past B-ranked Jerry Cairnes 9-4. Keeping Davis one rack shy of his goal of 9, Wilson claimed the hot seat hill-hill 7-8.

On the one-loss side, AA-ranked Brian White, who’d taken a second-round loss to B-ranked Mike Basha, was on a straight path to the finals. An 11-3 victory over B-ranked Jose Tovar pitted White against Duane Davis, who’d ousted Basha 7-3. Cruising past Davis 11-5, White met up with Philips. Meanwhile, B-ranked Greg Gilliam went hill-hill with A-ranked Joseph Cole, coming out on top 7-8 to meet up with past winner Josh Newman. Newman, who’d held fellow A-player Jim Jennings to five games, managed only three racks against Gilliam. Gilliam moved on to Cairnes, holding him to three games, as well, to reach the quarterfinals against White, who’d sailed past Philips 11-5. Another smooth win for White, this one 11-3, put him in the semifinals against S. Davis, whose four games planted him in third.

In the true double-elimination final match, White needed to take the first set to put him on equal footing with Wilson, but Wilson wouldn’t give him the chance. Taking advantage of some errors made by White, which were perhaps brought on by his having to fight his way through ten elimination-round matches, Wilson got ahead and stayed ahead, earning his first Great Southern Billiard Tour win 7-6.

Though many tried, no man was up to the task of derailing Kenny Wilson on his way to the ultimate victory at the January 16-17 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour.

by Lea Andrews

Though Robert South took a bit of a hit in the first set of the finals of the January 9-10 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour, he came back when it counted. South topped the full field of 64 that stormed The Pool Room in Duluth, GA, for the $1,500-added A-B amateur event.

B-ranked South earned his spot in the hot seat match with a 7-4 win over A-ranked Denny Singletary, who was racing to 9. Meeting South there was past winner AA-ranked Horace “Groundhog” Goodwin, who’d won 11-4 over B-ranked Chad Royal. South and Goodwin both fought hard to go undefeated into the finals, and they took it to the hill, with South earning the spot 7-10.

On the one-loss side, B-ranked Mike Basha notched a strong 7-6 win over recent winner Adam Pendley, who needed 11 games, to face Randy Jordan, who’d gotten past AA-ranked Brian White 9-7. At the same time, Henry Cofer was making his move towards the finals. His 7-7 win over AA-ranked Benny Conway, Jr., pitted him against Jeff Hooks, who was coming off a 9-8 win over AA-ranked Harold MCAbee. Holding Hooks to six games, Cofer moved on to Singletary, whom he also kept to six games to reach the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Basha had gotten past Jordan 7-7 to meet up with Royal, and the two went hill-hill, with Royal coming out on top 7-6. In the quarterfinal match against Cofer, though, Royal managed just five games to land in fourth, while Cofer moved on to Goodwin, allowing him just four games to reach South.

In the true double-elimination final match, Cofer pushed the second set decisively 7-2, but in the second set, South got off to an early lead, and though Cofer managed to stage a bit of a late comeback, it didn’t take. With the score at 6-4 South, Cofer broke the final rack and ran a few balls, but when he hooked himself, giving up ball in hand, South took over and pocketed what was left to earn first 7-4.

Though Robert South took a bit of a hit in the first set of the finals of the January 9-10 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour, he came back when it counted. (L-R) Henry Cofer, Shannon Daulton, Robert South

Results:
1st Robert South $1,000
2nd Henry Cofer $600
3rd Horace Goodwin $400
4th Chad Royal $200
5th Mike Basha $100
Denny Singletary
7th Randy Jordan $75
Jeff Hooks
9th Brian White $50
Adam Pendley
Benny Conway, Jr.
Harold McAbee
13th John Maikee $25
Sean Davis
Jim Jennings
Chris Kendrick

by Lea Andrews

Tony Morrison had more to be thankful for on the weekend after Thanksgiving than leftover turkey and stuffing—a win on the Great Southern Billiard Tour is the perfect birthday gift for any player, and that’s exactly what Morrison got. Morrison, who celebrated his birthday November 29, joined 54 other players at G-Jay’s in Inman, SC, for the $1,500-added A/B amateur event November 28-29.

A-ranked Morrison got into the hot seat match following a shutout win over Jeff Baumgarner, and it was there that Morrison was dealt his only loss. Having just won 7-6 over AA-ranked Brian White, who was racing to 10, Justin Price sent Morrison west hill-hill 7-8.

On the left side of the bracket, Josh Newman got by Mike Basha 9-4 to face Zack Robbins, who’d won hill-hill 7-6 over Chase Smith. Holding Robbins to three games, Newman moved on to Baumgarner. Meanwhile, Eddie Adams edged out fellow A-player Harold McAbee 9-8 to face Brian Davis, who’d gotten past Ken Hitchcock 7-3. After breezing past Davis 9-1, Adams met up with a challenge: White. White advanced 10-5 into the quarterfinals against Baumgarner, who’d reached his goal of seven games while Newman was one game shy of his goal of 9. A strong 7-5 victory pitted Baumgarner against Morrison once again, but unfortunately for Baumgarner, the result was nearly the same as the earlier shutout. Managing to hit the string just once in the semifinal match, Baumgarner landed in third while Morrison got his rematch with Price.

Morrison pushed the second set of the true double-elimination final match by winning the first set hill-hill 9-6. Accustomed to the pressures of higher-level competition, seasoned player Morrison handled the stress of the final set a bit better than the less-experienced Price, who made it to the hill but couldn’t mark up the final game—Morrison clinched his birthday victory hill-hill 9-6.

Tony Morrison had more to be thankful for on the weekend after Thanksgiving than leftover turkey and stuffing—a win on the Great Southern Billiard Tour is the perfect birthday gift for any player, and that’s exactly what Morrison got.

Results:
1st Tony Morrison $1,000
2nd Justin Price $500
3rd Jeff Baumgarner $300
4th Brian White $150
5th Eddie Adams $100
Josh Newman
7th Brian Davis $60
Zack Robbins
9th Harold McAbee $30
Ken Hitchcock
Chase Smith
Mike Basha

By Joshua Johnson, Inside POOL

Once again a new champion was crowned as Daniel “Lil D” McKenney went through an impressive 61 player field undefeated to take down the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s Choo Choo Amateur 9-Ball Classic. McKenney, from Hattiesburg, MS, put on an impressive display of shot making in taking the $1000 first place prize and crystal trophy.

Daniel "Lil D" McKenney and Arlo Walsman

No one was allowed to get closer than two games to defeating him until the finals, when Arlo Walsman reached the hill first in the 10-9 race. McKenney was not phased however, as he made quick work of a difficult layout at hill-hill to secure the victory, 9-9. McKenney’s path to the finals took him through Mike Basha (9-1), Joe Williams (9-4), David Rice (9-7), Jimmy Dickerson (9-6), Davey Crockett (9-6), and Walsman (9-6).

Walsman who is originally from Detroit, MI, took second in his second event with the GSBT. He made it all the way to the hot seat match undefeated, but fell to the powerful McKenney 9-6. Once there, he faced the task of defeating 2-time Jr. National Champion Landon Shuffett for a second time.

Shuffett, looking to get payback on Walsman for an earlier defeat, jumped out to leads of 4-0, 5-1, and 6-3 before Walsman tightened up his shot group and came back to win 10-7 in the alternate break format. Shuffett continued his strong showings on the GSBT by taking third place. Taking 4th place this weekend was former Tennessee State Champion Josh O’Neal.

Once again a new champion was crowned as Daniel “Lil D” McKenney went through an impressive 61 player field undefeated to take down the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s Choo Choo Amateur 9-Ball Classic.

Payouts:
1st Daniel McKenney $1000
2nd Arlo Walsman $600
3rd Landon Shuffett $400
4th Josh O’Neal $200
5/6th Gabe Appolos $125
Davey Crockett
7/8th Nicholas Hickerson $80
Jaime Cox
9-12th Danny Smith $30
Matt Reed
Roy Payton
Jimmy Dickerson
13-16th John Maikke Free Entry
Russ Edwards
Rod Fortner
Wayne Jenkins

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Tournament brackets

The Great Southern Billiard Tour would like to thank the owner of the Diamond Billiard Club, Davey Crockett, as well has his staff for being absolutely great hosts for this event as well as its sponsors: Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Tiger Products, Delta-13 Rack, Gambler Clothing, Masters Chalk, Inside POOL, AZ Billiards, Professor Q-BALL, and Billiards Stroke News. The GSBT will have a week off for Independence Day, but will be back in action the weekend of 11-12 July from Guys and Dolls in Roanoke, VA, for another A/B amateur event.

Tony Williams made quick work of Brad Shearer by the margin of 7-2 in the finals of the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s Upstate Amateur Classic at World Cup Billiards in Greenville, SC, to take the trophy and $1,000 first-place prize. Williams, after defeating AA-rated player Josh Roberts 7-8 in his first match on Sunday, only lost three racks in his last two matches to take down the tournament. He defeated John Thompson to win the hot seat match to move on to the finals by a score of 7-1 before coasting through Shearer in under 45 minutes.

Williams reached the finals by defeating Rich Cole 7-4, Danny Turner 7-2, Sidney Champion 7-7, Marty White 7-4, David Rice 7-6, and Thompson. Williams from Raleigh, NC, stated that he really wanted to defeat Shearer, also from Raleigh, so he would not have to hear Shearer brag to him on the ride back to Raleigh. The tournament win for Williams continues a trend on the GSBT this season, as they have not seen a repeat winner yet.

View the Great Southern Billiard Tour World Cup Billiard tournament brackets

View the live stream

Shearer recorded his best finish in a GSBT event by placing second. His road to the finals took him through Tony Daves 7-4 and Robert Langford 7-1 before losing to Josh Roberts 11-5. Once in the one-loss bracket he ended Landon Shuffett’s bid to repeat on the GSBT by defeating him 7-5, then bested JR Poste 7-5, David Rice 7-5, Matt Mancini 7-2, and John Thompson 7-1 to meet Williams in the finals. Thompson placed third and Mancini rounded out the top four places.

Tony Williams made quick work of Brad Shearer by the margin of 7-2 in the finals of the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s Upstate Amateur Classic at World Cup Billiards in Greenville, SC, to take the trophy and $1,000 first-place prize.

Results:
1st Tony Williams $1000
2nd Brad Shearer $500
3rd John Thompson $300
4th Matt Mancini $150
5th Josh Roberts $100
David Rice
7th Mike Basha $60
JR Poste
9th Marty White Free Entry
Chris Zayas
Landon Shuffett
Sidney Champion

by Joshua Johnson, Inside POOL Staff

The Great Southern Billiard Tour is hosting the latest of its amateur events this weekend at World Cup Billiards in Greenville, SC, where a field of 38 players has arrived to compete for the $1,000 first-place prize. What this field of players lacks in numbers it makes up for in quality, however, as some of the top amateur players from the southern region have shown up.

Landon Shuffett is just one of the great players playing this weekend at World Cup Billiards.

Some of the favorites are former winner Landon Shuffett, Josh Roberts, Sidney Champion, Brian Turner, Ray Benish, and Danny Turner, as well as tour regulars Paul Mullins, Mike Basha, Joshua Johnson, Mike Templeton, and the Tovar brothers—Luis, Antonio, and Jose.

View the Great Southern Billiard Tour World Cup Billiard tournament brackets

View the live stream

Players began play at approximately 3:00 p.m. Saturday and will play down to the final 12 places, who will return on Sunday. Players will be competing in the GSBT’s popular AA/A/B handicap format. AA’s go to 11, A’s go to 9, and B’s go to 7 games.

by Joshua Johnson, InsidePOOL Staff

After a trip north to Ohio, the Great Southern Billiard Tour returned to its roots in the South as its most recent event kicked off at The Palace in Greenville, SC, the weekend of May 16-17.  A great turnout of 55 players showed up to play in the two-day handicapped tournament to see who will take home the $1,000 first-place prize.  Notable “A” players who showed up to play are Jim Jennings, Landon Shuffett, Matt Bulfin, Ray Benish, Matt Mancini, and Steve Cox.  This tournament is played using the GSBT’s popular A/B handicapping system. “A” players go to 9, while “B” players race to 7, giving all players a fair chance to do well.

After a trip north to Ohio, the Great Southern Billiard Tour returned to its roots in the South as its most recent event kicked off at The Palace in Greenville, SC, the weekend of May 16-17.

Play began Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. and ended at 1:00 a.m. Sunday with the tournament down to 32 players. Those who returned for Sunday play in the winners’ bracket included “A” players Landon Shuffett, Matt Mancini, Ray Benish and Craig McPartlin. As of press time, there were 16 players remaining with Ray Benish (A) vs. Chase Smith and Landon Shuffett (A) vs. Craig McPartlin (A) to see who will meet up in the hot seat match.

On the one-loss side it’s Brad Shearer versus Mike Basha with the winner playing Tony Williams, Jeremy Edwards versus Brain Turner (A) with the winner playing Matt Mancini (A), Jim Jennings (A) versus Roger Jeffcoat with the winner playing Kenny Wilson, and Joe Watson versus George Seekford with the winner playing Adam Clark.

This event is being streamed live at the following link: Click here

Great Southern Billiard Tour Brackets – The Palace in Greenville, SC

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