On June 16th-17th, Houston’s Sports Bar held its first $1,000 added Lone Star event of 2012, drawing 57 entries over Open and Amateur divisions. Charlie “Hillbilly” Bryant, Manny Chau, David Gutierrez, Al Mason, and Sylver Ochoa helped make up the 25 player, star-studded Open division. New faces in the 32 player Amateur division included Bobby Pacheco, Ray Porter, Derrick Ray, Henry Rocha, Robert Garcia, Isai Rodriguez, and David Rodriguez.
Saturday’s Open play narrowed the field to 12 finalists for Sunday. Grady Cooper and Henry Rocha were two unusual suspects who played their way into the final four winners’ side for Sunday. Cooper defeated Al Mason 9-5 and Henry Rocha bested Sonny Bosshamer 9-6 to get there, but were both defeated in their hot seat bids by Sylver Ochoa and Charlie Bryant respectively. Cooper and Rocha secured 7th-8th place finishes. David Gutierrez suffered a first round loss to Mason and won 5 consecutive matches until he was upset by Bosshamer, 7-2. It seemed like old times as Ochoa and Bryant hammered it out for the cat bird’s seat. They traded racks, executing dead-lock safes and kicking in balls, until Ochoa pulled ahead and closed it out, 9-7. The “Hillbilly” made quick work of Bosshamer then exacted dual-set revenge on Ochoa to win his first Lone Star Open division title in 2 years!
There were several big stories on the “B” side. Pasadena, Texas newcomer, Ray Porter, stormed the Amateur division escaping 3 hill-hill matches to reach the hot seat. Surprise player Bill Fain reached his bid for the final four winners’ side with wins over Steve Williams, Carlos Martinez, and Henry Rocha. Fain lost to Bosshamer, 7-4, and was then eliminated by Brent Thomas, 5-3. Demetro depleted Thomas in the first round, but after 6 rounds of wins, Thomas exacted revenge on Demetro in the quarter finals. After a 7-4 loss to Porter for the hot seat, Bosshamer faced off with Thomas’, ending his 7 match winning streak. Victory was short-lived for Bosshamer as the indomitable Porter swiftly secured the final set to win his first Lone Star Amateur division event.
Congratulations to Tiffany Boysen who finished “top lady” in the Amateur division. There were 2 juniors who participated in the Amateurs, Mike Calderaro and Michael Fain. Junior Nick Calderaro competed in the Open, drawing Sylver Ochoa his first round and losing by a score of only 9-6. Many Lone Star tour players continue to reach for, and accomplish their goals, with each and every event in which they compete. Keep your momentum going!
The Lone Star Billiards Tour would like to thank its exclusive cue sponsor, Poison by Predator cues, www.poisonbilliards.com, its exclusive rack Delta-13, www.delta-13rack.com, www.PoolWebsites.com, APA of North Harris County, and Gulf Coast Billiards. The tour would also like to acknowledge and give special thanks to Carlos Ledson Miller, who generates the tour standings. Many thanks to BCA referee, Derrell Montgomery, and Jerald “Topwater” Jackson for their tournament assistance.
Paul Holleman from Baytown, Texas won a Poison VX Jump Cue and Cleveland, Texas’ Mike Terry won a VX2.9 Break/Jump in the Poison by Predator cue raffles. Enjoy your new cues gentlemen!
The Tour would like to thank Houston’s owner Eric Hill and his wonderful staff for making this a first rate event. The Olhausen tournament tables were recovered in brand new 860 Simonis cloth for the players to enjoy. Tour Director Kim White says, “Houston’s was so accommodating to the Tour and its players. We look forward to coming back.”
The next event is July 7th-8th at Bogies Billiards and Sports Bar. We hope you’ll join us.
The LSBT hosted its tenth stop of 2011 on August 27th-28th at Bogies Billiards in Houston, Texas. The event drew 53 competitors and 67 entries, fairing quite well in spite of a very recently scheduled event across town which overlapped the LSBT date set in early January. Bogies Billiards owner David Richardson added $1,000 to the ONE DAY EVENT, $500 to the Amateur and $500 to the Open divisions, which wrapped up late Saturday night!
The Open division winners’ side final 8 saw Chad Hensen defeat Rick Castillo 9-2, Sonny Bosshamer fall to Chris Young 9-4, Brian Rosenbaum overcome Nolan Edds 9-5, and Danny Roland best Sylver Ochoa 9-8. Young then fell to Hensen 9-4, and Rosenbaum defeated Roland 9-3. Hensen squeezed by Rosenbaum for the hot seat 9-8. On the east side, Bill Fuller was making his move after a first round loss to Rosenbaum. Joey Torres and Will Felder glided through the east side until they crossed paths. Torres advanced 7-4 but fell short to Chris Young 7-6. Fuller won 5 consecutive matches then eliminated Young 7-6 to meet Rosenbaum for the second time. Rosenbaum dealt Fuller a final blow, 7-3, but fell to Hensen in the final 9-8. This was Chad Hensen’s first Lone Star event and consequently his first win, congratulations!
The Lone Star Amateur division winners’ side final 8 yielded Brian Rosenbaum over Doug Gray 5-2, Victor Rojas over Tony Scott 5-4, Chad Hensen passing Chris Young 5-2, and Charlie Buckner squeezing past Rick Castillo 5-4. The east side saw Young defeat Eric Olivo 5-4, Will Felder eliminate Castillo, Joey Torres pass Gray, and David Mendiola fall to Tony Scott. The hot seat pitted an all too familiar match-up between Rosenbaum and Hensen, with Rosenbaum taking the seat 5-4. Back east, Torres and Felder were on a streak until Felder was stopped in 7th-8th by Young. Rojas ousted Young 5-0, then Torres, 5-1, but fell to Hensen 5-4. In the familiar final, Rosenbaum didn’t waste any time with Hensen, defeating him 5-3, and securing his first ever Lone Star tour win. Way to go Brian!
In the Junior division Joey Torres breezed through the bracket undefeated while Nick Calderaro finished a respectable second. Ladies champ Courtney Peters also went undefeated on Sunday delivering a final blow to Terry Petrosino 7-2.
Congratulations to David Mendiola who won a VX Jump Cue along with Jerald Jackson and Brittany McCombs who won a VX2.9 Break Jump and Nitro 6 cues respectively, donated by Poison by Predator.
Gulf Coast Billiards became the newest Lone
Star tour sponsor this past weekend when owner Gavin Miller donated 14 Pro Cup Aramith cue balls for the players to enjoy from here on out. For all your pool table or billiard product needs, contact GCB at www.GulfCoastBilliards.biz or call 832.894.1916. Longtime sponsors of the LSBT include Poison By Predator Cues www.predatorgroup.com, Delta-13 Rack www.delta-13.com, www.PoolWebsites.com, and the APA of North Harris County. Thank you for supporting pool in the great State of Texas!
The September 17th-18th Lone Star Event at Houston’s Sports Bar will be postponed until 2012. In lieu of this postponement, the Longhorn Amateur Tour will be hosting an evening 9-ball event on Saturday, September 17, at Bogies Billiards. Free practice starts at 8pm and matches will be called at 9pm sharp. All Amateur players are welcome! And don’t forget, Bogies has an 8-ball bar box tournament every Friday night with a break pot that’s up to $300!
The next Lone Star Event is October 29th -30th at Bogies Billiards & Games which is expanding its already 10,000 square feet room to accommodate poker tables, a pro-shop, and an additional bar! If you’ve never been, October 29th-30th is a great weekend to come by and visit the only 24 hour pool room in Houston. See you there!
