Fast Eddie's in Goldsboro, North Carolina hosted the 15th and final stop on the 2007-2008 Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour October 4-5, drawing a field of 32 players for the $2000 guaranteed added Main Event. Brian White defeated Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant, in the final match, earning $1500 for first place plus entry into the 2008 Carolina Open, courtesy of Fast Eddie's in Goldsboro, NC.
To kick things off, an Early Bird Tournament was held on Friday night. Brian White defeated Sam Monday (9-8) in the final match. Results for this event were: 1st Brian White - $200; 2nd Sam Monday - $130; 3rd Larry Pittman - $80; 4th Cary Dunn - $50; 5th-6th Ronnie Greer and Tommy Briscoe - $30 each; and 7th-8th Jeff Abernathy and Anthony Arney - $20 each.
On Sunday, Jackson Jeffreys took first place in the Junior Tournament. Also on Sunday, first place in the Second Chance Tournament went to Delton Howard, who defeated Charlie Brinson (7-5) in the final match. Final results: 1st Delton Howard - $120; 2nd Charlie Brinson $70; and 3rd-4th Peaches Fuller and Jeff Abernathy - $25 each.
In the Main Event, Brian White made a cakewalk out of a minefield. After blistering Michael Whisnant (7-1), White fended off Sam Monday (7-4), Tony Chohan (7-2), Shane Harvey (7-2), and Ron Wiseman (7-3) in his march to the hotseat.
Meanwhile, Charlie Bryant was sent west by Larry Kressel (7-2) in the first round.
After trouncing Charles Jones (7-1), Hillbilly scratched and clawed his way past Peaches Fuller (7-5), Philip Richardson (7-6) and Michael Fuller (7-5). His next four opponents would be enough to intimidate almost anyone, but Bryant was on a mission. One by one, he picked off Tony Chohan (7-2), Mike Davis (7-3), Shane Harvey (7-3) and Ron Wiseman (7-5) to earn his shot at the title.
In the final match, White jumped out to a 5-1 lead, thanks to two break-and-runs and a few mistakes by Bryant. Coming to his senses, Bryant turned things around with superior defense, taking a 6-5 lead.
In the twelfth rack, Bryant left himself bad shape on the 4-ball and opted to play safe. White converted a 4/9 carom and followed that with a break-and-run to regain the lead (7-6). Bryant defense let him down, giving White bonus opportunities and, eventually, a view from the hill. A final break-and-run sealed the win for White. Final score: 9-6.
This would not be the end of White's success at Fast Eddie's. Besides his first place finishes in the Main Event and Early Bird Tournament, White posted a very respectable 4th place in the Carolina Open 10-Ball Tournament, which took place after the Jacoby event. Eyewitnesses would have to agree that White enjoyed himself the entire week.
Congratulations to Sidney Champion, who was the lucky winner of the Limited Edition $750 cue raffle from Jacoby Custom Cues.
Special thanks to room owners Bucky Braxton and Gene Hooker and the entire staff of Fast Eddie's for their hospitality. Also, Rock City Promotions wishes to thank OB-1 Cues for supporting the Jacoby Tour.
Finally, congratulations to Michael Fuller, the 2007-2008 Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour Player of the Year. For his efforts, Fuller received free entry into the 2008 U. S. Open 9-Ball Championships.
The first stop on the 2008-2009 Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour will be November 8-9 at Fast Eddie's in Goldsboro, NC. The event will guarantee $1000 added with $1000 for 1st place.
Story and photo courtesy of Rock City Promotions.
