Great Southern Billiard Tour Revamps Schedule and Introduces Amateur Only Events

The pool scene in the southeast portion of the United States has been booming for some time and starting August 23rd-24th, the Great Southern Billiard Tour plans to kick it up a notch.  Until now, the tour events that were held have all been open division stops, but this month, integrated into the open events will be AMATEUR ONLY stops.  The tour has worked long and hard at bringing this opportunity to the players and are extremely excited about the changes to be made and the best part, looking forward to seeing plenty of new faces in the tournament arena.

As you might have guessed, with these changes, the tour has had to revamp their schedule and it has been updated on the AZBilliards.com calendar in accordance – the schedule has also been listed below for quick reference.

A few things outside of the new dates/division changes include the players that are ineligible for the amateur events; and the tournament rules.  Everyone loves rules and specifics, so we will start with those first (note the rules governing the open division will not change, the following is for amateur only events):

a. all events (open/amateur) minimum $1000 1st place guaranteed
b. alternate breaks, rack your own
c. races to eight winners, eight losers – true double elimination finals
d. Texas Express Rules
e. all APA (American Poolplayers Association) and BCA (Billiard Congress of America) members receive a 50% discounted entry fee
f. all active military members receive a 50% discounted entry fee
g. all women receive a 50% discounted entry fee plus $50 for highest finisher
h. all entry fees are a total of $50 ($30 entry+$10 green fee+$10 administrative fee)
i. if you already have a tour card for the GSBT open events, there is no need to purchase another card for amateur events – one card will cover both divisions
j. any player that wins an amateur event will receive a 50% discounted entry fee into the tour championship/season finale

And, one of the bonus incentives to playing in an amateur tour – not only do you have plenty of competition to hone your skills, but any entrant who plays in an amateur event on the GSBT will receive a ticket for a drawing.  The winner of the drawing will receive one free hour lesson from Tour Director Shannon Daulton at that event.

Now, who can play in the amateur events is always a question of many.  So, here is the list of ineligible players (for amateur only events):

a. any player who has won any open event in 2008
b. any player who has ever been a touring professional
c. any player who has ever won a national championship in an open, master, or grand master division
d. any player who wins five or more amateur events on any tour combined in one calendar year (January-January)
e. any player who wins three amateur events on the GSBT in 2008
f. any player that finishes in the top three or better nine times on any amateur tour in 2008

For any of those players that fly under the radar around the country and have snuck into an event in the past on another tour, please know that if you are known by the Tour Director not to be a true amateur player you will not be allowed to play – all entries will be at the discretion of the tour staff/management.

The tour welcomes any/all comments or suggestions in an effort to better future events.  You can find out more about the GSBT at www.myspace.com/greatsouthernbilliardtour (please note the schedule has not been updated at the myspace link as of yet).  For additional information about the events listed below or if you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, contact Shannon Daulton directly at (865) 850-4572 or email thecannon72@yahoo.com.  The tour would like to thank those that continue to support them including Nick Varner Cues & Cases, Masters Chalk, AZBilliards.com, and Inside Pool (future sponsors to be announced).

The schedule for the tour has been modified as follows (please note that venues that were previously publicized may have changed division specification or dates):

Open Event
King Street Billiards
Fayetteville, NC
August 16 - 17, 2008
$2000 added guaranteed main event, $250 added second chance tourney (with 16 players, Sunday only)

Amateur Only Event
Breakroom Billiards
Conway, SC
August 23-24, 2008
$2000 added guaranteed

Amateur Only Event
Weekends Pub
Charleston, SC
September 6-7, 2008
$1500 added guaranteed

Amateur Only Event
Marietta Billiard Club
Marietta, GA
September 20-21, 2008
$1500 added guaranteed

Amateur Only Event
Diamond Billiard Club
Chattanooga, TN
September 27-28, 2008
$2000 added guaranteed

Open Event
Smokehouse Billiards
Myrtle Beach, SC
October 4-5, 2008
$1500 added guaranteed main event, $250 added second chance tourney (with 16 players, Sunday only)

Amateur Only Event
Breakers Sports Bar
Rock Hill, SC
October 11-12, 2008
$1500 added guaranteed

Amateur Only Event
Palace Billiards
Greenville, SC
November 1-2, 2008
$1500 added guaranteed

Amateur Only Event
Speak Easy Billiards
Sanford, NC
November 15-16, 2008
$2000 added guaranteed

Open Event
SD Presents The Players 10Ball Championship
King Street Billiards
Fayetteville, NC
November 18 - 23, 2008
$5,000 guaranteed added one-pocket event:
$20,000 guaranteed added ten-ball event
*early registration deadline: postmark by November 1st ($25 after this date)
*see calendar entry on AZBilliards.com for additional event details

Amateur Only Event
Marietta Billiard Club
Marietta, GA
November 29-30, 2008
$1500 added guaranteed

December 6-7, 2008
TBA

Division Determination To Be Announced
World Cup Billiards
Greenville, SC
December 13-14, 2008
$1500 added guaranteed

Amateur Only Event
Karls Korner
Columbia, SC
December 20-21, 2008
$1500 added guaranteed

Open Event
Tour Championship/Season Finale
Diamond Billiard Club
Chattanooga, TN
February 4 - 8, 2009
$10,000 total purse