Well, our boy, Glenn Atwell, made it hill-hill against Brady Gollan. He never led until it was 9-8. Then he scratched on the break and Brady ran out to make it hill-hill. We thought we were done. Then Brady breaks dry. Glen took a hinky shot and moved a stripe which made the 5 extremely difficult to cut in the side and had half a pocket to go in the corner. He got straight in on the 5 for the corner, nailed it and with the stop shot, had the 8 in the side. Not bad for a $100 entry in a mini-Q!
Whew! The US was exulting, since the only other 2 left were Canadians - Brady and his road partner, Mike Vidas. At the last Q, Mike Vidas won his spot and Gandy Valle knocked Brady out from qualifying. We couldn't imagine how he would feel if he came in 3rd in both qualifiers!
Brady actually had a great opportunity to 3-foul Glenn, but didn't know the 3-foul rule was in effect. Instead, he made a ball, then combo'ed in Glenn's last ball and let Glenn see the very edge of the 8, with an extreme back cut down near the spot. Glenn asked if scratching on the 8 was a loss. It wouldn't really matter, since BIH is just as bad! Anyway, he fired that sucker in like it had eyes! Another time, he banked in an 8 full table length. He really earned his spot. At one point, it was 7-3, Brady!
We left to go play another bar table tournament, this time, races to 3, 9-ball. Glenn and I played each other to go to 4th place. I broke and ran the first game. He won the 2nd, I won the 3rd, and he tied it up, hill-hill. I just didn't have the heart to win...he was playing for gas money to get home to Portland on. Ahh, the life of a pool champion!
Even though I had the opportunity to win the last game, I just couldn't, lol.
So while we are at the tournament, we keep calling Jillian's with an update. When we left, Vidas was up 5-4. Vidas had the chance to make it 5-0, but missed a ball and let Brady back in. Our first call had Vidas up 9-8, then it was 9-9 and Vidas was shooting. We just thought it was over.
I called just as it ended and Brady had won. I pulled a long face and told Mike and Glenn that Vidas had won and they were disheartened for Brady. Then I told them that Brady had really won and they both lit up. It was cute.
What a long weekend it has been! From trying to get Glenn to Jillian's each day on time to pacing his eating and coffee, to practicing with that Break doo-dad that hooks to your table.
Saturday, we started with enough time to get him there an hour early, which is what Mike and I like to do, not walk in 2 minutes before our matches, like Glenn does. Well, he had to stop and get air in his tires, then stop and get an espresso. Then the freeway was backed up for miles due to a dumptruck that lost its load several miles away on THE OTHER side of the freeway! Then once we hit Seattle, there was a major slowdown when a cop car had pulled someone over. Finally, we flew into Jillian's with 5 minutes to spare, and I told Mike, "Glenn probably thinks he is 3 minutes earlier than usual!"
Anyway, we had a good time this weekend, but we are glad it's over and we can now concentrate on The Venetian tournament!
Glen won 10-4 but was very nervous!
