Shane McMinn, winner of three stops on the 2010 Midwest 9-Ball Tour, picked up his first of 2011 with a victory over Gabe Owen in the finals of an event held on the weekend of June 11-12. The $2,100-added main event drew 44 entrants to Magoo's in Tulsa, OK. A $400-added Ladies event drew 10 entrants and was won Nicole Keeney.
McMinn and Owen were among the winners' side final four, but a 9-4 victory by Joey Gray over Owen, prevented an initial hot seat matchup. McMinn defeated John Gabriel 9-6 to face Gray. McMinn sent Gray to a semifinal rematch against Owen with a 9-5 victory, and waited in the hot seat for what turned out to be Owen's return.
Owen moved west to take on Greg Hogue, who'd defeated Duane Remick 9-4 and Jesse James 9-7 to reach him. Gabriel drew Midwest 9-Ball regular Chip Compton, who'd gotten by John James and Albert Howe, both 9-7. Owen downed Hogue 9-6, as Compton and Gabriel locked up in a double hill battle, eventually won by Compton.
It was a 'familiar face' quarter final, as Compton and Owen squared off. Owen prevailed 9-7 to earn a rematch against Gray. Owen took advantage of the opportunity and advanced to the true double elimination final with a 9-6 win.
They played only a single set, as McMinn completed an undefeated weekend with a 9-4 victory that earned him his first 2011 Midwest 9-Ball title.
In the ladies tournament, it was Nicole Keeney and Rhonda Pierce, squaring off three times; once in the hot seat match, won by Keeney 7-5, and twice in the true double elimination final. Pierce had moved over to face and defeat Kathy McMinn 7-1 in the semifinals, and returned to take the double hill, opening set of the finals. Keeney got out in front in the second set to win it by two, 7-5 and capture the first place prize.
Men's Division Payouts | Women's Division Payouts
McMinn bests Owen to take Midwest 9-Ball Tour stop
June 13, 2011