 Jonathan Hennessee, Shannon Daulton, and Billy Young |
The Great Southern Billiard Tour held The Choo-Choo Classic V at Diamond Billiard Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee the weekend of November 3rd and 4th. This $1500 added event brought in thirty-seven players despite the numerous regional events scheduled simultaneously.
If you made it into the pool room this weekend, you would have seen such notables as Shannon Daulton, Rafael Martinez, Bobby Pickle, Jonathan Hennessee, Billy Young, Claude Marrier, Billy Bailey, Landon Shuffett and Dave Crockett gearing up to battle it out for the title and prize fund.
As the Saturday play dwindled down to the final sixteen, the chart looked as though Sunday would be action packed as well:
Winners side match-ups (starting at 2 pm Sunday):
Billy Bailey / Shane Little (local)
Billy Young / Brandon Williams
Shawn Miller / Rafael Martinez
Lee Branham (local) / Jonathan Hennessee
One-Loss side (starting at 1 pm Sunday):
Jeff Click / Shannon Daulton
Jason Turner / Dave Crockett
Claude Marrier / Barry Boney
Alex Olinger / Bobby Pickle
The initial matches on Sunday ended with Bailey, Young, Miller, and Hennessee winning their respective matches on the winners side of the bracket, while Daulton, Turner, Marrier, and Pickle sent home their opponents on the one-loss side.
This set-up the next round on the winners side between Billy Bailey and Billy Young. At one time, the score was 4-3 with Bailey on top which seemed to continue to be the theme as he was able to defeat Young; and Jonathan Hennessee and Canada's Shawn Miller. Miller was ahead 5-3 at one point in the set, but ultimately Hennessee finished out the match 9-7. Then, the hot seat match between Hennessee and Young was played. During this set, the score hit double hill when Hennessee broke dry allowing Young a shot on the one ball and the game out – Young took the hot seat 9-8.
The one-loss side saw Shannon Daulton roll over Rafael Martinez 9-5; and Shane Little topped Claude Marrier 9-8. This left Daulton against Lee Branham and Pickle versus Little. Both Daulton (9-3) and Pickle (9-2) defeated their opponents to move on further in the brackets. Unfortunately for Daulton, the end would come shortly thereafter in his tight match with Billy Bailey 9-8. All the while, Pickle easily dominated Shawn Miller 9-2 to then match up against Billy Bailey only to then loose 9-6.
The semi-finals saw Jonathan Hennessee defeat Billy Bailey 9-7 and move into the true double elimination final round with Billy Young. At 5-0 Hennessee, it was obvious Hennessee caught a gear and Young had to wonder if he would have another chance at the table. The answer would be that Young would score one game in the first set before Hennessee finished it off 9-1. In the second set, Hennessee continued to dominate and finished out the event with a 9-4 victory over Young.
Special thanks to all of the loyal tour members for their continued support; to Diamond Billiard Club for their great food and hospitality all weekend - the staff and waitresses were wonderful; and to the tour sponsors Nick Varner Cues & Cases, Jimmy Reeves Custom Cues & Repairs, Break N Run Sportswear, and AZBilliards.com The next tour stop will be held November 17th and 18th at Weekends Pub in Goose Creek, South Carolina.
