Capps Brushes Fuller Aside in North Carolina

The grand opening tourney (The $1500-added North Carolina Amateur Classic) at Paradise Billiards in Charlotte, NC attracted 70 players. It was played on 16 Diamond professional tables. Saturday saw a few of the pre-tournament favorites such as Scott Lewis, Sam Monday, and Ron Park fall to the B side of the chart. After a long day and night of play, Sunday started with the final 32 players - 16 on the winners side and 16 on the one-loss side. The A/B amateur series adds an extra twist by the handicap system. Some of the AA ranked players had their hands full playing the A and B players.

The always-dangerous Brian Capps snapped this one off after gong double-hill with Mike Fuller in the finals. The handicap format created a double-hill scenario at 10-9 and Capps pulled the win out at 11-9. Capps road to the finish line included wins over Greg Taylor (9-5), Paul Harrison (9-2), Norris Brady (9-3), Josh Roberts (9-6), Josh Newman (9-6), and then in the hotseat- Mike Fuller (9-10).

On his way to the runner-up position Mike Fuller bested Mike Patterson (11-2), Eddie Little (11-5), Clint Clark (11-6), Matt Reed (11-6), Jeff Abernathy 11-1), Mike Basha (11-5), and Josh Roberts (11-8).

There were 7 women players with Stephanie Stone winning the $50 cash prize for highest lady finisher.