Olinger wins first GSBT stop as Double-A player

In his first outing as a Double A player on the Great Southern Billiard Tour, Alex Olinger went undefeated through a field of 38 entrants to take home his third, first-place finish of 2011. He started the year with a second-place finish in the Derby City 9-Ball Mini event in January, falling to Charlie Williams in the finals. He then won a stop on the Lucasi Hybrid All-American Tour in Tennessee.  A month later, also in Tennesse, he won his first GSBT stop of the year.  He chalked up his third “W” on the weekend of April 9-10, in a $1,500-added event, hosted by Classic Billiards in Conyers, GA.

Olinger would have to get by Josh Roberts twice in the event. They met first in the hot seat match, after Olinger had sent Danny Smith west 10-6 and Roberts had done likewise to Aaron Frady 10-3. Olinger then grabbed the hot seat with a 10-8 victory, sending Roberts to the semifinals.

Frady moved over to take on Mike Templeton, who'd defeated Tim Orange 7-2 and Jared McGee 7-7. Smith drew Ray Bourne, who'd advanced past Tommy Nejar 7-2 and survived a double hill battle against Greg Little. Templeton dropped Frady into the tie for fifth place 7-5, as Smith was busy engaging Bourne in his second straight double hill match; won by Smith.

Smith took down Templeton 10-5 in the quarterfinals and turned to face the last remaining obstacle between him and a rematch versus Olinger. Roberts, though, had the same obstacle between him and an Olinger rematch and gave up only two racks in the semifinals to get his second chance.

Olinger had won their first match, battling for the hot seat, ahead by two racks. He concluded his undefeated weekend by allowing only two in a 10-8, first set win of a true double elimination final.

Tour director Shannon Daulton thanked the staff and management of Classic Billiards, as well as tour sponsors Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Delta-13 racks, Tiger Products, Mike Davis Extermination, and Andy Gilbert Custom Cues.