As dawn was breaking along the shores of South Carolina on Monday morning, March 8, Josh Newman completed a five-match trek on the one-loss side of the bracket to take first place in the Great Southern Billiard Tour stop, held on the weekend of March 6-7. The $1,500-added event, hosted by Raisin’ Canes in Inman, SC, drew 88 entrants. 

Newman completed a five-match trek to the winners’ side final four and met up with Mark Parlier, who would go on to gain the hot seat. Parlier sent Newman west 9-7, and then, in the hot seat match, sent Dusty Gosnell to join him 9-5. Gosnell had sent Paul Mullins over 7-6 (Gosnell needing to reach nine). 

Newman’s return to the finals began with Jared McGee, who’d advanced past Tray Melton 11-4 and Michael Walker 11-5 to reach him. Mullins met up with Chase Smith, who’d gotten by Randy Henderson 9-1 and Marvin Reed, in a double-hill , 9-6 win. Newman downed McGee 9-5, as Smith was busy doing likewise to Mullins 9-8.  

Newman then survived three straight double-hill matches, defeating Smith 9-8 in the quarterfinals, Gosnell 9-6 in the semifinals and opening the true double elimination finals with a 9-8 win over Parlier. He came within a game of making it four straight double hill wins to cap the victory, with a 9-7 win in the second set that earned him the first place prize.