Julio "Latin Connection" Aquino was unleashed on August 29, 2004 at the Fury Amateur 9-Ball event held at Cue Time Billiards in Sebring, Florida when he came though a field of 45 players to claim first place. The one-day $500 added event showed a very skilled and competitive field and lasted well into the night and really tested a player's endurance.
As Kay Higgins, promoter of the Fury Amateur Tour and owner of Kings Bay Promotions, Inc, and Karen Alford Tournament Director watched the play, as the tables seemed to turn from one match to the next. Julio Aquino sent Jim Sandaler to the one loss side in their 1st match of the event. Sandaler shoed he wanted to advance when he took wins from Steve Howitt 5-3 and Eric David 5-0. The tables did turn on Sandaler when Bobby Moore sent the Latin Connection to the losers bracket and they met for a second time. Aquino took control of the match from the start and left Sandaler in fourth place in a 5-1 score.
In the hot seat match was two regular Fury tour players Tony Vicari and Bobby Moore. Vicari got the jump on Moore and continued his reign in the winners bracket with a 7-4 victory. Vicari was heard saying that he could not believe he was in the money.
After his loss to Vicari, Moore had to again face Aquino. Both players were determined to advance one more step in the bracket but it was Aquino who showed he was in stroke when he took the match with 5-2 leaving Moore with third place.
The finals were then matched up with two players, Aquino and Vicari, who had already proven their skill levels. The play was neck and neck through out the match which showed how well the match up was. The match could have gone either way at this point but with a few good shots "Latin Connection" Aquino took the first place spot with a 9-8 victory.
