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Second room owner, Marty Opyd, wins stop on GSBT

Shannon Daulton, Marty Opyd and Bruce Luttrell

Two months ago (July 26), Gerry Shepherd, owner of Mickey Milligan's in New Bern, NC, became the first room owner to ever win a stop on the Great Southern Billiard Tour. On the weekend of Sept 26-27, Marty Opyd, owner of Legends Billiards in Inman, SC became the second. He went undefeated in the $1,000-added event that drew 47 to his establishment.
 
Opyd was challenged by separate opponents in the hot seat match and potential double elimination final. He'd defeated James Moore 6-2 to get into the hot seat match, where he was met by Mike Wood, who'd sent Mike Langley to the loss side 4-2. Opyd claimed the hot seat 6-2 over Wood and waited on what turned out to be the return of Bruce Lutrell
 
Lutrell was already on the loss side, working on a winning streak that would take him to the finals. Following victories over Dayne Miller 7-2 and Cary Burton 7-3, he drew Moore. Langley picked up Marcus Ovalle, who'd gotten by Matt Collins 4-3 (Collins racing to 6), and Michael Vinesett 4-2.
 
With Ovalle racing to 4, Mike Langley prevailed 3-2 to advance to the quarterfinals. He was met by Lutrell, who'd defeated Moore 7-3. Lutrell gave up only a single rack in the quarterfinal versus Langley, and gave up only two to chalk up the semifinal against Wood. Opyd stopped Lutrell's streak with a 6-5 win in the opening set of the true double elimination final to claim the event title.

Davis comes back to double dip Cook on the GSBT

Shannon Daulton, Brian Davis, Dave Cook, David Perkins, Kevin Quinn & Del Laquiere

Brian Davis, a B player, downed two straight A players to get into the hot seat match against another A player, Dave Cook, only to be turned aside during the June 22-23 stop on the Great Southern Billiard Tour. Davis, though, came back from the semifinals and double dipped Cook, claiming the $2,500-added event title that had drawn 83 entrants to Players Place Billiards in Charleston, SC.
 
Davis took the first of his two straight matches against A opponents among the winners' side final eight, defeating Eddie Hudak 7-6 (A players race to 9). setting him up to face Michael Basha. Cook and Bruce Lutrell met in the other winners' side semifinal. Davis sent Basha west with another 7-6 victory, as Cook moved into the hot seat match with a 9-5 victory over Lutrell. Cook took the first (and last) of three versus Davis 9-5 and waited in the hot seat for him to return.
 
On the loss side, Lutrell picked up Hudak, who, following his defeat at the hands of Davis, took down BJ Hucks 9-7 and Russell Scott 9-6. Basha drew Trent Talbert, who'd gotten by Scooter Hias 7-3 and Russ Padgett double hill. Talbert eliminated Basha 7-4, and in the quarterfinals, met up with Lutrell, who'd shut out Hudak.
 
In a straight-up, B race to 7, Lutrell advanced to the semifinals over Talbert 7-3. In another straight-up race to 7, Davis ended Lutrell's bid 7-5, earning himself a re-match against Cook.
 
Davis and Cook fought to double hill in the opening set, before Davis finished it, forcing a second match. He held Cook to six racks in that second match to claim the event title.
 
Tour directors Shannon and Marge Daulton thanked the ownership and staff at Players Place, as well as sponsor Del Laquiere, who, as proprietor of the Hustlers Pool League, put up all of the added money.

Shuffett and Bergman battle each other to GSBT 9-ball (Shuffett) and 8-ball (Bergman) victories

Shannon Daulton, Landon Shuffett, Justin Bergman, Mike Medley (owner of Michael’s Billiards)

Landon Shuffett and Justin Bergman faced each other three times in two separate GSBT tournaments on the weekend of April 21-22. In the $1,500-added, 9-ball event that drew 29 entrants, they met for the first time in the finals, and Shuffett took the title with back to back wins over Bergman. In the $500-added, 8-ball, bar table event that drew 30, they met in the semifinals, and it was Bergman, advancing to the finals, and defeating hot seat occupant, Corey Morphew. Bergman was in the hot seat match of both tournaments, while Shuffett came from the loss side in both.

Shuffett was already on the loss-side in the 8-ball event, as Bergman was advancing to the winners’ side semifinals against Brad Ragon. Corey Morphew and T.J. Back were the opponents in the other semifinal. Morphew sent Back over 6-1, and in the hot seat, faced Bergman, who’d downed Ragon 7-1. Morphew, taking advantage of a handicap, got into the hot seat with a 6-6 victory (Bergman going to 8).

Ragon moved over and ran into Shuffett, who ended his (Ragon’s) day with a 7-3 victory and advanced to the quarterfinals. Back fell immediately to Billy Thorpe 6-1, and squared off against Shuffett. Shuffet completed his loss-side run with a 7-3 victory over Thorpe and then, in a straight-up race to 7 semifinal, Bergman survived a double hill match that sent him back to face Morphew in the finals. Bergman double dipped Morphew (7-5, 7-1) to claim the 8-ball title.

Shuffett and Bergman both advanced to the winners’ side final four in the 9-ball event; Shuffett, to face Bruce Lutrell, Bergman facing Robert Frost. Bergman advanced to the hot seat match with an 11-8 victory over Frost, and was met by Lutrell, who’d just sent Shuffett west 7-8 (Shuffett going to 11). Bergman shut out Lutrell to gain the hot seat.

Shuffett shuffled over to take on Clay Carman, as Frost picked up Charles Raulston. Shuffet and Frost met in the quarterfinals, once Shuffett had eliminated Carman 9-4 and Frost had dispatched Raulston 9-6. Shuffett then wreaked his vengeance on Lutrell in the semifinals by allowing him only a single rack. He followed that with two identical 11-4 victories that secured the 9-ball event title.

Tour directors Shannon and Marge Daulton thanked Mike Medley and his Michael’s Billiards and Games staff for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Mike Davis Exterminating, Tiger Products and Delta-13 racks. Next stop on the GSBT is a $1,500-added, 9-ball tournament, scheduled for May 5-6 at Speak Eazy Billiards in Sanford, NC.

8-Ball Payouts | 9-Ball Payouts