Claude Marrier had won five straight on the loss side for the right to meet Matt Bulfin in the finals of the July 28-29 stop on the Southeast Open 9-Ball Tour. He also came back from an early 6-1 Bulfin lead in those finals to reach the hill, three games ahead. Bulfin, though, fought back to win the final four games, capturing the event title, and finishing undefeated to take his second straight victory on the SE Open 9-Ball Tour. The $1,000-added event drew 36 entrants to Pockets in Dothan, AL.

From among the winners’ side final four, Bulfin met up with David Hennessy, as tour director Tommy Kennedy squared off against Stoney Stone. Bulfin got into the hot seat match with a 9-7 win over Hennessy, as Stone battled to double hill, before prevailing over Kennedy. Stone fought Bulfin to double hill, as well, but Bulfin had the final say to sit in the hot seat awaiting Marrier’s return. 

Sent west by David Hennessy, from among the winners’ side final eight, Marrier got his five-match march back to the finals underway with a 7-4 victory over Arthur Huynh, and then shut out Mike Townsend, who had just completed a double hill win over his father, Scotty Townsend, in what Kennedy said was the first time the two had met on his tour. Marrier advanced to pick up Kennedy. Hennessy drew J.R. Rossman, who’d gotten by Tracie Majors 7-3 and picked up a forfeit win over Detroit Griffin. Rossman spoiled a potential Hennessy/Marrier rematch by defeating Hennessy, double hill, as Marrier survived his own double hill battle against Kennedy.

Marrier went on to defeat Rossman in the quarterfinals 9-4. He then spoiled Stone’s bid to get back to the finals for a re-match versus Bulfin with a 9-3 win in the semifinals.

Bulfin took a commanding 6-1 lead in the race-to-11 finals, but watched as Marrier won eight straight for a 9-6 lead of his own. Bulfin narrowed the margin by a single game, before Marrier came back to reach the hill first. Bulfin fought back, and at 10-9, Marrier made a kick shot on the 8-ball that hung in the hole. Bulfin made the shot, and though left tough on the 9-ball, completed the rack to knot things at double hill. Bulfin then broke and ran to snatch his victory from the proverbial jaws of defeat.