Trevor Heal started strong and finished that way, as well, to take top honors in the Tri-State stop on Saturday, March 24. He opened his 6-1 campaign with a shutout, and finished by returning from the semifinals to take down hot seat occupant, Bryan Jeziorsky. The $750-added, B-D handicapped event drew 30 entrants to Port Richmond Billiards on Staten Island.

Following his opening round shutout over Ed Culhane, Heal moved on to defeat Inna Bediner and Rajesh Vannala, which moved him among the winners’ side final four to face Gary Murgia.

Jeziorsky, in the meantime, squared off against Chris Luethi. Heal and Jeziorsky got their first shot at each other, once Heal had defeated Murgia 7-1, and Jeziorsky had sent Luethi west 7-4. Jeziorsky got into the hot seat with a 7-5 victory over Heal, that would prove to be his last.

Murgia moved over to meet David Danchak, in the midst of a run that was propelling him to the quarterfinals. He’d gotten by Richard Anderson 6-3 and Mike Zimmy double hill. Luethi drew Bill Suden, who’d been sent west by Murgia and was on a four-match run that would set him up to face Heal in the semifinals. He’d gotten by Culhane 7-4 and Vannala 7-3 to pick up Luethi.

Danchak downed Murgia 8-2, as Suden was benefiting from a forfeit by Luethi. Suden won the quarterfinal match versus Danchak that followed, double hill and turned to face Heal. Heal won his only loss-side match 7-4 for a second crack at Jeziorsky. 

After trading racks through the opening two games of the extended race-to-9 finals, Heal pulled out to a 4-1 lead. They traded racks to 5-2, and Jeziorsky won two in a row, to pull within one. They proved to be his last, as Heal went on a four-game run that first, when he reached seven games, forced the extension to nine games, and then, two racks later, earned him first prize.

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Port Richmond Billiards, as well as sponsors Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Ron Tarr Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. Next stop on the Tri-State Tour is a $1000-added, A-D handicapped event, scheduled for April 1, at Carom Cafe and Billiards in Flushing, NY.