I spent the weekend playing in this event in Savannha, GEorgia. There was an awesome turnout of 64+ players, including many ladies and seniors. Some of the great players that showed up for this one were BJ Ussery (good to see him back), Tommy Kennedy, Mike Davis, Rafael Martinez, Louis Ulrich, Stevie Moore, Butch Croft, Mike Staubes, and Neil Fujiwara. It was a strong field in a great room, and I it was a lot of fun. The Southside Billiard Club did an excellent job hosting this event.
I got a bye in the first round, won my match in the second round, then I ran head first into Louis Ulrich. I have wanted to play Louis for the past couple of tournament, and I sweat the match between he and Butch Croft - hoping to get my wish, and I did. The balls didn't spread well for either of us, and for me the match was mostly defensive. I played great safeties, but part of the object of the game is to put the balls into the pockets and I forgot that - but I was proud to get a couple of games on a great world class player such as Louis. He's a great person, great player, and it was an honor to play him.
After that I ended up ruinning the flow chart, while my girlfriend refereed an impromptu Rock Paper, Scissors macth up between Ronnie Park and Tommy Kennedy.
Ronnie won, but I'm sure he cheated. 
Tommy Kennedy played Stevie Moore on the winners side and dealt Stevie a 7-0 loss. OUCH. I guess Rock, Paper, Scissors will make one loose as a goose... lol
I didn't get to play my next match until 1:30 AM against Lonnie Wilson. It went hill-hill, and in the end Lonnie overcame the heat (it was very hot), and came back from being down 4-0 and knocked me out of it. I was up 4-1, banked the 8 cross side and I was left with a two foot straight in shot on the 9 ball. I missed it. It reminded me of that 9 ball that Thorsten
missed in the first game of the 2004 U.S. Open finals. It was 4-2. Lonnie snaps in the 9. It's 4-3. He breaks, makes the 1 and ends up with the 9 hanging in the corner. 4-4. He broke came up dry, I ran out, 5-4. Then it was 5-5. The next game, I shot the 8, went two rails and scratched in the dead center of the side pocket. I'm the world champion of doing that. The next game I was able to squeek it out - it was then hill-hill. I ended up on two fouls. I had a two rail kick ... illustrated below.
It was a great shot, but I didn't get rewarded for it. I missed the 4 and Lonnie was able to win from there.
We headed back to Orlando at 3:00 AM, got home around 7:30 in the morning, slept all day, and I am now eating breakfast at 4:30 in the afternoon. I think I'm getting too old for this $hit, but I love it!
My super-awesome two rail kick that I made ... it was my last shot of the tournament... lol
I got a bye in the first round, won my match in the second round, then I ran head first into Louis Ulrich. I have wanted to play Louis for the past couple of tournament, and I sweat the match between he and Butch Croft - hoping to get my wish, and I did. The balls didn't spread well for either of us, and for me the match was mostly defensive. I played great safeties, but part of the object of the game is to put the balls into the pockets and I forgot that - but I was proud to get a couple of games on a great world class player such as Louis. He's a great person, great player, and it was an honor to play him.
After that I ended up ruinning the flow chart, while my girlfriend refereed an impromptu Rock Paper, Scissors macth up between Ronnie Park and Tommy Kennedy.
Ronnie won, but I'm sure he cheated. Tommy Kennedy played Stevie Moore on the winners side and dealt Stevie a 7-0 loss. OUCH. I guess Rock, Paper, Scissors will make one loose as a goose... lol
I didn't get to play my next match until 1:30 AM against Lonnie Wilson. It went hill-hill, and in the end Lonnie overcame the heat (it was very hot), and came back from being down 4-0 and knocked me out of it. I was up 4-1, banked the 8 cross side and I was left with a two foot straight in shot on the 9 ball. I missed it. It reminded me of that 9 ball that Thorsten
missed in the first game of the 2004 U.S. Open finals. It was 4-2. Lonnie snaps in the 9. It's 4-3. He breaks, makes the 1 and ends up with the 9 hanging in the corner. 4-4. He broke came up dry, I ran out, 5-4. Then it was 5-5. The next game, I shot the 8, went two rails and scratched in the dead center of the side pocket. I'm the world champion of doing that. The next game I was able to squeek it out - it was then hill-hill. I ended up on two fouls. I had a two rail kick ... illustrated below.
It was a great shot, but I didn't get rewarded for it. I missed the 4 and Lonnie was able to win from there.
We headed back to Orlando at 3:00 AM, got home around 7:30 in the morning, slept all day, and I am now eating breakfast at 4:30 in the afternoon. I think I'm getting too old for this $hit, but I love it!
My super-awesome two rail kick that I made ... it was my last shot of the tournament... lol
