Ryan and Meraglio Rule Arnold

Joey Ryan

Joey Ryan earned his first tour points event title by playing solidly throughout the Tiger Planet Pool Amateur 8-Ball event this weekend at Bill & Billies in Arnold, MD. Earlier in the year, he showed that he was capable of winning by taking the multiple-player ring-game charity event in May, which helps to prove that Sunday's win was no fluke. Ryan had to fend off a fierce Freddy Greenwell to get another shot at Jimmy Tyson--who had beaten him the match before in the winners' bracket finals. Greenwell played some outstanding matches after losing his second match on Saturday, beating Fred Scott, Richard Molineiro, Brandon Shuff and last event's number two, Thuan Bui before facing Wayne Bean, who was having a good run himself. Tyson beat Sueyen Rhee, Ed Deska, and Thuan Bui on his way to the hot-seat. But Ryan proved too strong in the finals, ousting Tyson 7-2. Greenwell took third, and Bean took fourth.

In the ladies division it was a repeat of the previous event, with Tina Meraglio putting up too strong a resistance for Kathleen Lawless in both the winners' bracket final as well as the eventual tournament final. Lawless played well in their final clash, even though the score of 5-0 was no reflection of her onslaught. Cheree Adams finished third, and Ceci Strain filled out fourth spot.

The next Tiger/Planet Pool event is a 9-Ball event, and takes place at First Break Cafe in Sterling, VA on August 13-14.