by Lea Andrews

Though Josh Newman’s first encounter with Mark Parlier didn’t go his way, the 17-year-old made up for it in the next two sets to earn his first win as an A-player on the Great Southern Billiard Tour. Newman topped the mega-sized field of 81 that arrived for the $1,500-added A-B amateur event, held March 6-7 at Raisin’ Cain’s in Inman, SC.

Newman faced A-ranked Parlier for the first time on the winners’ side final four, and Parlier earned a spot in the hot seat match 9-7. Earning the other spot was B-ranked Dusty Gosnell, who’d sent A-ranked Paul Mullens west 7-5. Gosnell came up one game shy of his goal of seven games against Parlier, and he moved over to the semifinals for a shot at the rematch.

On the one-loss side, A-ranked Chase Smith blew through B-ranked Randy Henderson 9-1 to meet up with B-ranked Marvin Reed, who’d gone hill-hill with A-ranked Marty Free 7-8. Another hill-hill match was waiting for Reed against Smith, but he was on the wrong end of this one, and he landed in seventh 9-6. Meanwhile, AA-ranked recent winner Jared McGee took care of B-ranked Trey Melton 11-4 to face B-ranked Michael Walker, who’d ousted A-ranked Barry Medlock 7-5. Holding Walker to five games, McGee moved on to Newman, who pushed his way past 9-7 to reach the quarterfinals. There he faced Smith, who’d edged out Mullins 9-8. Another 9-7 victory for Newman put him up against Gosnell in the semifinals, where they were both fighting for another chance with Parlier. It was well into the early hours of Monday at this point, and Newman outlasted Gosnell to claim his spot in the finals 9-5.

The first set of the true double-elimination match went hill-hill, and in the final rack, it seemed like it would be the only set. An unlikely late miss by Parlier brought Newman back to the table, though, and he finished off the rack to push the second set 9-8. Though neither showed it, fatigue had to have been wearing on both players, but Newman’s stamina served him well, allowing him to finish off his win 9-7 at just after 6 a.m. Monday morning.

Though Josh Newman’s first encounter with Mark Parlier didn’t go his way, the 17-year-old made up for it in the next two sets to earn his first win as an A-player on the Great Southern Billiard Tour.

by Lea Andrews

Though Filipina superstar Iris Ranola was the sure favorite to win the season finale of the Arizona Women’s Billiard Tour, she did have some hefty competition among a small but strong field of 11. Tour points leader Stacy Novack, who was so far in front she couldn’t be caught, was absent, but among those who gathered at Bull Shooters Billiards in Phoenix, AZ, for the $300-added WPBA regional tour event were tour powerhouses Ashea Erdahl, Heather Torpin, and Susan Williams.

Ranola breezed past Sara Miller to fight for the hot seat against Erdahl, who’d squeaked past Barbara Lee 7-6. Holding Erdahl to four games, Ranola took her seat as winner of the winners’ side and awaited an opponent for the finals.

Meanwhile, on the one-loss side, second-place points leader Williams breezed past Donna Taylor 7-2 to face Miller, while Torpin blew by Terri Johnson-McCauley 7-1 to meet up with Lee. The Williams-Miller battle ended with Williams on top 7-6, and she moved on to face Torpin, who’d held Lee to four games. Torpin’s score got flipped on her in the quarterfinals, though, as she landed in fourth 7-4 courtesy of Williams, who advanced to a semifinal rematch with Erdahl. In their first encounter, Williams had come up just shy of victory 7-6, and though in their second encounter, Erdahl was certainly looking to go on to a rematch with Ranola, Williams wasn’t going to give it to her. She took control of her own rematch 7-3 to earn the right to face Ranola in the finals.

Ranola could afford to give up the first set of the true double-elimination final match, but allowing an opponent to reach seven games was simply not on her agenda at this tournament. Williams hit the string just twice in the finals as Ranola cruised to victory 7-2.

Though Filipina superstar Iris Ranola was the sure favorite to win the season finale of the Arizona Women’s Billiard Tour, she did have some hefty competition among a small but strong field of 11.

Results:
1st Iris Ranola $200
2nd Susan Williams $130
3rd Ashea Erdahl $85
4th Heather Torpin $60