There's evidence to support the idea that hot seat occupants can get just a little overconfident when the player they've already sent to the semifinals comes back to challenge them. The result is what's commonly known as a second set in a true double elimination final, which is what Mitch Yarborough faced in the $1,000-added Great Southern Billiard Tour stop, held at Classic Billiards in Conyers, GA on the weekend of July 9-10. Randy Couey spoiled Yarborough's bid for an undefeated weekend, but couldn't prevent him from earning the event title.
The winners' side final four matchups pitted a pair of "A"s (Yarborough and Sean Davis) and "B"s (Couey and Jeff Jordan) against each other, and led to an A-B hot seat match, as Yarborough defeated Davis 9-5, and Couey downed Jordan 7-6. Yarborough won the first of his three against Couey 9-4 and awaited his return.
Davis moved over to face Corey Morphew, who'd defeated Mark Stewart 7-5, and dominated 7-1 in a match against Brad Sullivan. Jordan drew Jeff Dugan, who'd gotten by Wes Davis 7-4 and Darryl Guess 7-2. It was Jordan and Davis advancing to the quarterfinals; Jordan, with a 7-3 victory over Dugan and Davis, 9-2 over Morphew.
It was an A (Davis) - B (Jordan) quarterfinal, and Jordan prevailed by the single game he needed, to face Couey in the semifinals. Couey prevailed in the straight-up, B to B battle against Jordan 7-3, to earn a second chance versus Yarborough.
Couey took full advantage of the chance he'd been given, defeating Yarborough in the opening set 7-3. Yarborough, though, came back to take the second set 9-6 and capture the first place prize.
Tour director Shannon Daulton thanked sponsors Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Mike Davis Exterminating, Tiger Products, and Delta-13 Racks.
