The second stop on this years Mike Zuglan's Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour was nothing short of incredible. Saturday and Sunday October 14 & 15 the tour was at Bristol Billiards in Bristol Ct. 76 Players showed up at what has to be one of the nicest rooms, if not the nicest in Connecticut. Steven and Cathy Mahoney added $2000 to this event and the play like the room was spectacular. Right from the first round matches on there was great play on the 18 of 20 Gold Crown 3's we used. 72 men and 4 women played. The fans loved the fact that Karen Corr, Nicole Mancini, Julie Kelley and Neslie Ohare where in the field. The guys were represented with some heavies to including, Mike Zuglan, George SanSoucci, Allen Hopkins, Jim Rempe, Larry Lisciotti, Frankie Hernandez and many more great players. Bob Hunt a veteran Connecticut player upset Ginky in the first round 9-5. Another Ct. player, Pete Genovese was playing incredible 9-ball this day beating all his opponents including Bob Campbell, Teddy Garrahan, Rob Saez and Karen Corr. Rich Ross of Wilbraham, Ma. and Tom Seminaro Jr. of Bridgeport, Ct were on fire and won all their matches Saturday . Also winning all her matches this day was Nicole Mancini, the pro player out of Snookers Cafe and Billiards in Providence, RI. Keep and eye on this lady, she plays wonderful pool and is going to go a long way. The rest of the winners side Saturday consisted of Mike Zuglan, Chuck Altomare, Lee French and Mike McAndrews. On the one loss side we had Frankie Hernandez vs Carlos Vieira, Allen Hopkins vs Karen Corr, George SanSoucci vs Jim Rempe and Steve Tavernier vs Tom D'Alfonso.

On Sunday, a day that was as beautiful outside as could be imagined 16 players came in to find the house full of spectators and play some the toughest 9-ball this writer has seen in awhile. There we no less than 7 hill battles and some outstanding safe play. Jim Rempe was on the hill three times himself. On the winners side, Chuck Altomare went through his opponents to get to the hot seat, beating Mike Zuglan and squeaking by Mike McAndrews 9-8 after McAndrews misses a straight in 8 proving that these guys are human too. In the match between Rempe and Steve Tavernier, Steve had "King James" 7-2 when Rempe took advantage of a few key misses and came back to win 9-8. Allen Hopkins beat Karen Corr and then Nicole Mancini with great shot making and safe play that showed how much Mr. Hopkins respected these two fine women players. Hopkins said " These women are tough and you can not let down or they will nail you. I play them as hard as I do any man" I am sure that being married to a pro( Dawn Hopkins) has made him aware of how good these girls really play. Next up was one of the feature match ups of the day Allen Hopkins vs Jim Rempe. Hopkins got out first to a 3-1 lead and Rempe got back into it tying up the match 4-4. Again Hopkins took control and was up 7-5 when he came up a little long on a safe and Rempe got back to the table and won the next 3 making it 8-7. Hopkins won the next and you guessed it hill hill. Making zero on the break these two great's played safe 6 times in a row and when Allen fouled Jim ran out for the victory. Next up for Jim was Mike Zuglan the guy who put him on the one loss side. Again Rempe fell behind and again he battle back and won 9-7. It was time for the finals and Chuck Altomare and Jim Rempe squared of for the first of the true double elimination match. As in all of his matches this day, Rempe had to come from behind. Altomare came out firing and led all the way getting to 8 while Rempe only had 6. When Chuck played a difficult 6 ball instead of playing safe or a two way shot, he missed and along came Rempe. The 52 year old Scranton, Pa. player came back again to the hill and won again 9-8. In match number two, Rempe took control this time and led most of the way for his second straight Joss Northeast event.

I can not say enough about how great this tournament was or how nice Bristol Billiards is. If you live anywhere in the that area, make sure you check this place out. Steven and his staff did an outstanding job and deserve a big round of applause. Next week is stop #3 at Leasure Time Billiards in Levittiown, NY.

Final Standings:
1. $1800  Jim Rempe
2.  $1000  Chuck Altomare
3.  $ 800  Mike Zuglan
4.  $ 590  Allen Hopkins
5/  $ 400  Tom Seminaro Jr.
6  Mike McAndrews
7/  $ 325  Carlos Vieira
8  Steve Tavernier
9  $240  Nicole Mancini
  Lee French
  Rich Ross
  Pete Genovese
13 $170  Frank Hernandez
  Karen Corr
  George SanSoucci
  Tom D'Alfonso
17 $100  Chad Bazinet
  Jonathan Smith
  Matt Domin
  Marty Herman
  Bob Hunt
  Larry Lisciotti
  Joe Tucker
  Paul Rota

By: Pat Murray