by InsidePOOL Staff

After suffering a first-round loss to Dwight Cherry 9-4, Mike Conway Jr. rallied to roar back and win the next ten matches in a row to reach the finals against John Mitchelltree, whom he bested in the double-elimination final match. Conway Jr. joined 59 other players at Q-Master Billiards in Virginia Beach, VA, the weekend of February 4-5 for the $1,500-added amateur event.

Mike Conway, Jr, Shannon Daulton, & John Mitchelltree

Cherry went unchallenged through to the winners’ side final four, where Virginia State champ Chris Futrell knocked him to the one-loss side 11-7. Mitchelltree disposed of Cheryl Pritchard 9-5 and advanced to meet Futrell in the hot seat match, where he eked out a 9-10 victory.

Making his move through the west side, Conway Jr. ran into Cherry and ousted him in fifth place 9-7. Justin Spires tied with Cherry after Pritchard eliminated him 6-6. But Pritchard fell to Conway Jr. in the next round 9-3, ending up in fourth place.

Conway Jr.’s next victim was Futrell after their semifinal match ended with Conway Jr. advancing 9-10. The double-elimination final match against Mitchelltree was an uphill battle, but Conway Jr. met it head on, winning the first set 9-2 and the second 9-7.

Results:
1st Mike Conway Jr. $1,000
2nd John Mitchelltree $600
3rd Chris Futrell $400
4th Cheryl Pritchard $300
5th Dwight Cherry $200
Justin Squires
7th Dave Bollman $90
Jimmy Byrd
9th Tim Colvin $50
Saul McClinton
John Hernandez
Carey Dunn

by InsidePOOL Staff

Vincent Morris scored an unblemished victory over Mel McCullen in the finals of the Tri-State Tour’s February 4 event, going through the field without a loss to claim first place. The $1,000-added tournament drew 41 C-D players to Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY.

Vincent Morris scored an unblemished victory over Mel McCullen in the finals of the Tri-State Tour’s February 4 event, going through the field without a loss to claim first place. left to right: 2nd Place - Mel McCullen Mackin; 1st Place - Vincent Morris , 3rd Place - Dennis Kennedy

McCullen and Morris matched up first in the winners’ side final four, where Morris dealt him his first loss 6-3. In the other winners’ side match, Dennis Kennedy eked out a hill-hill, 6-5 win over David Danchak. In the hot seat match, it was Morris who took the match over Kennedy 6-4.

Once on the west side of the chart, Danchak quickly fell to Randy Mackin 6-3, tying for fifth place with Meshak Daniel, who was ousted by McCullen 7-3. However, Mackin soon followed after McCullen eliminated him in fourth place 7-4 in the quarterfinals.

McCullen kept the stream alive in the semifinal match against Kennedy, trumping him 6-3 to earn another chance at Morris. In the finals, though, Morris was the dominant force as he swept ahead to claim the match 6-3.

Results:
1st Vincent Morris $635
2nd Mel McCullen $420
3rd Dennis Kennedy $260
4th Randy Mackin $150
5th David Danchak $100
Meshak Daniel
7th Steve Wade $75
Tyronnie Harlee

by InsidePOOL Staff

Pro player Mike Davis took off the January 21 stop of the Tiger Classic Tour, double-dipping John Souders in the finals to take the title. The open event drew 32 players to Cue Phoria in Winter Park, FL.

Davis first encountered Souders in the winners’ side final four, where Souders delivered Davis to the one-loss side 7-3.

Davis first encountered Souders in the winners’ side final four, where Souders delivered Davis to the one-loss side 7-3. In the other bracket, Harry Nathan bested George Sanders 7-5 to move on to the hot seat match and face off with Souders, who took that match 7-4.

Nick Applebee eliminated Sanders in fifth place to advance to the quarterfinal match. Meeting him there was Davis, who had just ousted Julio Aquino in a fifth-place tie with Sanders. Davis dominated Applebee 7-2 and continued his trek through the west side.

In the semifinal match, Davis easily handled Nathan 7-4 to reach the double-elimination finals against Souders. Souders struggled to take the title, but Davis notched a narrow 7-5 win in the first set and then whitewashed Souders in the second to claim his victory.

Results:
1st Mike Davis $450
2nd John Souders $200
3rd Harry Nathan $100
4th Nick Applebee $80
5th George Sanders $60
Julio Aquino

by InsidePOOL Staff

Bill Duggan managed an undefeated run through the field at the January 14 stop of the Lucasi Hybrid Cues All-American Tour, eking out a 5-4 hill-hill thriller in the finals over Eric Moore. The stop was hosted by Inland Reef in Virginia Beach, VA, where the $1,000-added 9-ball scratch tournament on 7-foot Valley bar boxes drew 26 players.

On the A-side, Duggan bested Bill Mason 5-3, while Moore defeated Dave Perry. Duggan then took the hot seat with a 5-1 effort over Moore.

(L-R) Joey Glover (3rd), Bill Duggan (1st) and Eric Moore (2nd)

On the B-side, both Joe Hughes and Vern Steinke were relegated to seventh place by Ray Reyna 5-2 and Joey Glover 5-2, respectively. Reyna and Mason were eliminated in the next round by Dave Perry 5-4 and Glover 5-4, respectively. Glover then ousted Perry at fourth place by a score of 5-4, but Glover settled at third place in the next round with a loss to Moore in the B-side finals. The tournament finals almost went two sets, but Duggan hung on to victory by a 5-4 margin over Moore in the first set for the title.

Results:
1st Bill Duggan $400
2nd Eric Moore $300
3rd Joey Glover $175
4th Dave Perry $75
5th Bill Mason $50
Ray Reyna
7th Joe Hughes $40
Vern Steinke

by InsidePOOL Staff

Joe Palone enjoyed an undefeated run through the field at the Tri-State Tour’s January 28 stop to take the title over Randy Mackin in the finals. The $750-added stop attracted 41 A-D players to Port Richmond Billiards in Staten Island, NY.

Palone and Mackin first met in the hot seat match after wins over Rhio Anne Flores 7-2 and Tony Ignomirello 6-3, respectively. The winners’ side final match went double-hill, with Palone eking out a 7-6 victory and sending Mackin to the left side of the bracket.

left to right: 2nd Place - Randy Mackin; 1st Place - Joe Palone , 3rd Place - Rick Shellhouse

Flores foundered on the one-loss side and was sent home in fifth place by Rajesh Vannala 7-4. Tying with her was Ignomirello, who was eliminated by Rick Shellhouse in a lopsided 6-1 match. Shellhouse went on to play Vannala in the quarterfinal match, narrowly winning 8-6.

Eager to earn revenge over Palone in the finals, Mackin soundly defeated Shellhouse in the semis 6-2. In his second meeting with Palone, though, Mackin found it difficult to keep up, and Palone soon skated to the winner’s circle 7-3.

Results:
1st Joe Palone $650
2nd Randy Mackin $440
3rd Rick Shellhouse $270
4th Rajesh Vannala $160
5th Rhio Anne Flores $105
Tony Ignomirello
7th Gary Murgia $80
Ben Castaneros

by InsidePOOL Staff

Tony Piazza took first place at the January 28 installment of the Lucasi Hybrid Cues All-American Tour, besting Sam Cordova in the finals to remain undefeated. Greenfields Pool and Sports Bar in Lakewood, CO, hosted the $1,000-added 8-ball scratch tournament, which drew 49 players.

(L-R) Roy Yamane (3rd), Sam Cordova (2nd) and Tony Piazza (1st)

On the A-side, Piazza and Roy Yamane met for the hot seat after Piazza dispatched Andrew Pettinger 5-2 and Yamane upended Cordova 5-4 in the semifinals. Piazza then remained the lone undefeated player by outpointing Yamane 5-2.

On the B-side Jim Fraser and Ed Borrego were eliminated at seventh place by Kevin Williams 5-0 and Ron O’Meara 5-2, respectively. But in the next round both Williams and O’Meara were ousted, courtesy of Pettinger 5-4 and Cordova 5-1, respectively. Cordova kept up his momentum in the next round by stopping Pettinger at fourth place by a 5-1 margin. Cordova then avenged his only loss by taking down Yamane in the B-side finals 5-3. Cordova had to defeat Piazza two sets for the title, but Piazza was having nothing of that, and he dispatched Cordova 5-2 for the title.

Results:
1st Tony Piazza $790
2nd Sam Cordova $400
3rd Roy Yamane $200
4th Andrew Pettinger $150
5th Kevin Williams $75
Ron O’Meara
7th Jim Fraser $50
Ed Borrego
9th John Sandifer $35
Fred Vigil
Flats Lujan
Elliott Fields

by InsidePOOL Staff

An undefeated B. J. Ussery won top honors at the January 14-15 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour, as he breezed through the field to best Mike Fuller in the final match. The $1,500-added amateur 9-ball event drew 42 players to Brown’s Billiards in Raleigh, NC.

An undefeated B. J. Ussery won top honors at the January 14-15 stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour, as he breezed through the field to best Mike Fuller in the final match.

Ussery’s run wasn’t without its challenges, though. After sending Younger Chapman to the one-loss side 11-5, he went on to face Fuller, who had just bested Brad Shearer 11-5, for the first time in the event in the hot seat match. Their first meeting in the tournament went hill-hill, with Ussery eking out the 11-10 win.

Once on the west side of the chart, Chapman and Shearer soon found themselves tied for fifth place courtesy of James Blackburn 7-8 and Brian White 11-6, respectively. White went on to topple Blackburn in the quarterfinal match 11-6 and advance to the semifinals.

In a narrow 11-9 decision, it was Fuller who won and earned a rematch with Ussery in the finals. It was another close call, but Fuller still could not get past Ussery, who took the title 11-9.

Results:
1st B. J. Ussery $1,000
2nd Mike Fuller $500
3rd Brian White $300
4th James Blackburn $200
5th Younger Chapman $155
Brad Shearer
7th Vernon Rogers $90
Larry Kressel

by InsidePOOL Staff

Ron Gabia and Ed Culhane elected to split first place at the January 14 stop of the Tri-State Tour because of the lateness of the hour. The $500-added 9-ball event was hosted by Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ, and drew a field of 47 A-D players.

Ron Gabia and Ed Culhane elected to split first place at the January 14 stop of the Tri-State Tour because of the lateness of the hour.

Gabia took the right side of the bracket by storm, defeating Joe Palone in a double-hill match to advance to the hot seat match. His opponent, Cory Sohlman, had just thumped George Osipovitch 6-1, but against Gabia he found no respite, as Gabia went on to win 8-3.

Culhane was fighting his way through the left side, eliminating Annie Flores 7-5 and Palone 7-5 to reach the quarterfinal match. Facing him was Ed Dacosta, who had just ousted Osipovitch at fifth place 6-2. Their match went double-hill before Culhane squeaked past with a 7-6 win.

Sohlman was the last barrier before Culhane could reach Gabia, and though he put up a fight, it was Culhane who emerged the 8-5 winner. But in the finals, Gabia and Culhane decided to split top honors.

Results:
1st Ron Gabia $575
Ed Culhane
3rd Cory Sohlman $275
4th Ed Dacosta $150
5th Joe Palone $100
George Osipovitch
7th Annie Flores $75
Rick Shellhouse

by InsidePOOL Staff

Alex Olinger skated through the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s first stop of the new year, surviving a double-hill final onslaught by Sam Monday to take the title. The $1,500-added stop hosted 46 amateurs players who came out to The Club House Bar and Billiards the weekend of January 7-8.

Olinger went undefeated to best Brad Black in the winners’ side final four 10-2 and reach the hot seat. Meeting him there was Monday, who had just bested Billy Thorpe double-hill 10-8. It was another hill-hill affair for Monday, but this time he was sent to the one-loss side 10-9 as Olinger awaited a finals opponent.

On the left side of the chart, D. J. Holloway easily handled Collin Hall 9-1, while Larry Kressel narrowly notched a 10-7 win over Chris Bruner. Holloway continued on to eliminate Thorpe at fifth place 9-4, while Black tied with Thorpe after Kressel ousted him 10-4. In the following quarterfinal match, it was all Kressel, as he took the match 10-4, sending Holloway home in fourth place.

Alex Olinger skated through the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s first stop of the new year, surviving a double-hill final onslaught by Sam Monday to take the title.

Kressel’s come-uppance came in the next round via Monday, who won their semifinal match 10-6. His rematch with Olinger, though, found Monday in the exact same spot as before, as Olinger eked out another hill-hill victory.

Results:
1st Alex Olinger $1,000
2nd Sam Monday $500
3rd Larry Kressel $300
4th D. J. Holloway $200
5th Billy Thorpe $140
Brad Black
7th Collin Hall $100
Chris Bruner

by InsidePOOL Staff

Ben Castaneros and Raymond Lee met three times at the Tri-State Tour’s January 7-8 event, with Castaneros double-dipping Lee in the finals to take the title. The $2,000-added stop drew a field of 61 players to Gotham City Billiards in Brooklyn, NY, for the A- through D-player, 9-ball event.

Castaneros and Lee first matched up in the winners’ side final four, where Lee dealt Castaneros his first—and only—loss of the tournament 6-1. In the other bracket, Bryan Jeziorski sent Alex Osipov to the west side of the chart 7-5. Jeziorski put up a fight in the hot seat match, but Lee was able to notch a 7-4 win.

Ben Castaneros and Raymond Lee met three times at the Tri-State Tour’s January 7-8 event, with Castaneros double-dipping Lee in the finals to take the title. left to right: 3rd Place Bryan Jeziorski, 2nd Place Raymond Lee ; righ most 1st Place Ben Cataneros

From the left side of the bracket, Castaneros sprang back with a 7-4 victory over Mike Strassberg, while Osipov sent Ron Gabia home in a fifth-place tie with Strassberg after their match ended 7-2. Castaneros and Osipov collided in the quarterfinal match, which saw Castaneros best Osipov 6-4 to stay alive.

It was another victory for Castaneros in the semifinals, where he eliminated Jeziorski in third place 7-4. In the double-elimination final match, Castaneros dominated Lee 6-2 in the first set and 6-1 in the second to take first place.

Results:
1st Ben Castaneros $1,250
2nd Raymond Lee $870
3rd Bryan Jeziorski $590
4th Alex Osipov $420
5th Ron Gabia $270
Mike Strassberg
7th Ed Culhane $190
Andrzej Kaldan
9th Robert Plaut $140
Arturo Reyes
Luis Jimenez
Alan Chan