Scott Simonetti had an undefeated day on the Tri-State Tour on Saturday, April 3, though Wilfredo Albay came within a single game of spoiling that effort. The two were among 47 entrants who signed on for the $500-added, B-D handicapped event at Castle Billiards in East Rutherford, NJ, where Simonetti had chalked up his last tour victory in November.
Simonetti and Albay were both among the winners' side final four, but as Simonetti was busy sending Carl Sallo west 7-2 to get into the hot seat match, Tony Eglesias delivered Albay to the west bracket 7-6. Simonetti gained the hot seat 7-2 and began what turned out to be a five-hour wait to face Albay.
Albay's three-match journey back to the finals began with Gary Murgia, who'd defeated Yomaylin Feliz 8-6 and Sam Li 7-6 to meet him. Sallo faced Brian Hunter, who'd advanced past Chuck Giallorenzo 7-5 and Rick Shellhouse 9-6. Albay advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-5 win over Murgia. Sallo joined him with a 7-6 victory over Hunter. A decisive 7-1 win over Sallo set Albay up for a rematch versus Eglesias in the semifinals. The two duplicated their earlier 7-6 score, but it was Albay who survived this time.
The five hour wait proved to be something of an issue for Simonetti, as he found himself down early; by five racks at 6-1. He rallied, though, with a six-pack that gave him the 7-6 win and his first tour victory in 2010.
