Mike Davis had won three straight North Carolina State 8-Ball Open titles and arrived in Hickory, NC on the weekend of September 14-15 to chalk up his fourth. His path to the event victory went off-course early as he was sent to the loss side in the event’s second round. He would win seven matches on the loss side, but in the end, it was BJ Ussery, completing an undefeated run, who would unseat him from his 8-Ball Open throne and wear the crown for the first time. The $500-added event drew 28 entrants to Randolph’s Billiards in Hickory.
Davis was defeated in the second round by Jason Evans, who followed him to the loss side later. In the meantime, Ussery and Shannon Fitch advanced to winners’ side semifinals versus Mike Bumgarner and Justin Martin, respectively.
Fitch and Martin locked up in a double hill fight that eventually sent Martin to the loss side. Ussery punctuated his advance to the hot seat match with a shutout over Bumgarner. He then downed Fitch 7-4 to claim the hot seat and wait for the event’s defending champion to finish his loss-side run.
After chalking up his first two loss-side wins, Davis eliminated Chuck Ritchie 6-4 and survived a double hill fight against Daniel Gambill to draw Martin in the first money round. Bumgarner picked up Jason Evans, who’d shut out Travis Worden and then, in spite of being down 5-0 to Hank Powell, came back to defeat him 6-5 and face Bumgarner.
Davis and Evans advanced to their quarterfinal rematch; Evans over Bumgarner 6-2 and Davis over Martin 6-4. As Ussery had punctuated his advance to the hot seat match, Davis punctuated his advance to the semifinals with a rematch shutout over Evans. He then earned the right to defend his 8-Ball Open title with a 6-3 over Fitch in those semifinals.
The final match was a straight race to 9. Ussery won it 9-7 to claim his first NC State 8-Ball Open title.
Tour directors Herman and Angela Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Randolph’s Billiards for their hospitality, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, Bar Pool Tables, Delta 13 Racks, AZ Billiards and Professor Q-Ball. The next stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for this weekend (September 21-22) will be a $500-added ($1,000-added with 64 entrants) event, hosted by Break & Run Billiards in Chesnee, SC.
He’s been competing more, and it shows. Dalton Messer closed out 2018 with a Saturday, Dec. 29 victory on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour. Messer, who, until 2018, had cashed in a total of only four of the tour’s events over the past two years, cashed in six events on this year’s tour, including two runner-up and two third-place finishes. He’s earned over five times as much this year as he earned in 2016 & 2017 combined. Messer went undefeated through a field of 41 entrants at the event hosted by Randolph’s Billiards in Hickory, NC.
Messer had to get by different opponents in the hot seat match and finals. He’d worked his way through to a winners’ side semifinal against David Lear, while his eventual opponent in the finals, Matt Harrell, was squaring off against Brian Francis. Messer got into the hot seat match with a double hill win over Lear, as Francis sent Harrell to the loss side 6-2. Messer claimed the hot seat in a 5-2 win over Francis and waited on what turned out to be Harrell’s three-match, loss-side trip back to the finals.
Harrell gave up only a single rack to Newman, and advanced to the quarterfinals 6-1. Lear and Canipe locked up in a double hill fight that eventually sent Lear to join Harrell. Harrell downed Lear 6-5 (Lear racing to 7) and then, defeated Brian Francis 6-2 in the semifinals.
With Harrell, looking for his second win on the tour, racing to 6, Messer, looking for his first win on the tour, defeated him 5-4 in the only set necessary to secure the event title.
Tour directors Herman and Angela Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Randolph’s, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, Bar Pool Tables, Delta 13 Racks, AZ Billiards and Professor Q-Ball. The next stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour, the third of the tour’s ‘official’ 2019 calendar is scheduled for this weekend (Jan. 5-6) and will be hosted by Brown’s Billiards in Raleigh, NC.
A week ago (March 24-25), Jason Brattain won five matches on the loss side of a Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball stop and then, the opening set of a true double elimination final against another Jason (Rogers). Rogers rallied in the second set to claim the event title. Perhaps believing that more time on the loss side would result in a different outcome, Brattain won seven matches on the loss side during the March 31-April 1 stop on the tour and won both sets of a double elimination final against Mike Bumgarner to claim his first Q City 9-Ball title. The event drew 25 entrants to Randolph’s Billiards in Hickory, NC.
With Brattain already at work on the loss side, having lost to Oscar Espinoza in the event’s second round, Bumgarner advanced to a winners’ side semifinal against Randall Bowman, which he won 7-3. He was joined in the hot seat match by Collin Hall, who’d defeated Steve Hughes in the other winners’ side semifinal 6-2. Bumgarner punctuated his winners’ side exploits with a shutout over Hall and waited for Brattain to meet him in the finals.
With two notches on his loss-side belt, Brattain downed Tyson Key 6-4, and then Daniel Gambill 6-6 (Gambill racing to 9), to enter the event’s first money round against Bowman. Hughes drew Jerry Hilton, who’d defeated Espinoza 7-3 (spoiling any thoughts Brattain may have been entertaining of a re-match) and Jeff Young 7-2.
Brattain gave up only a single rack to Bowman and advanced to the quarterfinals. Hughes, in the meantime, downed Hilton 7-3 to join him. Brattain then downEd Hughes 6-3 in those quarterfinals.
In a straight-up race to 6, Brattain and Hall battled to double hill, before Brattain completed his loss side trip and turned to face Bumgarner in the true double elimination finals. Brattain took the opening set 6-4, and though Bumgarner battled in the second set to force a 12th deciding game (Bumgarner racing to 7), Brattain dropped the final ball and claimed the event title.
Tour directors Herman and Angela Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Randolph’s Billiards, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, Delta 13 Racks, AZBilliards and Professor Q Ball. The next stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for April 7-8, will be hosted by a new venue on the tour, Carolina Billiards in Garner, NC.
A pair of ‘Steves’ battled it out for the 2017 Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour Championships on the weekend of December 16-17. Steve Reece and Steve Hughes played three matches to determine the winner. Reece took two out of three of them, including the all-important second set of a true double elimination final to claim the championship title. The $1,500-added Tour Championships drew 74 entrants to Randolph’s Billiards in Hickory, NC.
The first of the three ‘Steve’ battles was the hot seat match. Reece had sent Rick Roper to the loss side, double hill in one winners’ side semifinal, as Hughes sent Chris Walsh over 7-6 (Walsh racing to 8). Reece claimed the hot seat 5-4 (Hughes racing to 7) and waited for him to get back from the semifinals.
On the loss side, Walsh picked up Jeff Abernathy, who’d defeated Scott Roberts 10-6 and Daniel Gambill 10-8 (double hill) to reach him. Roper drew Bernie Kirby, who’d been defeated by one of the ‘Steves’ (Hughes) and was in the midst of an 8-match, loss-side winning streak that would take him all the way to the semifinals. He’d eliminated Dalton Messer 6-3 and Mackie Lowery, double hill (6-6) to face Roper.
Walsh downed Abernathy 8-8 (Abernathy racing to 10), as Kirby chalked up win #7, 6-1 over Roper. Kirby’s last win came in the quarterfinals that followed. He eliminated Walsh 6-5 (Walsh racing to 8) to earn his re-match against Hughes.
Hughes defeated Kirby a second time, shutting him out to earn his own re-match against Reece. Hughes took the opening set of the true double elimination final 7-1. Reece rallied in the second set to win it 5-4 and claim the Tour Championship title.
Tour directors Herman and Angela Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Randolph’s Billiards, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, Delta 13 Racks, AZBilliards and Professor Q Ball. The next stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour will be the 2018 season opener, scheduled for the weekend of January 6-7, 2018, and to be hosted by Mickey Milligan’s in New Bern, NC.
Though warm weather and a host of competing events diminished the numbers, the North Carolina State 9-Ball Championships were held at Brass Tap and Billiards in Raleigh, NC, on the weekend of February 18-19. Held under the auspices of the Viking Cues' Q City 9-Ball Tour, the $400-added event saw 32 entrants compete, and for the second year in a row, saw Mike Davis, Jr. go undefeated to claim the title.
In 2016, Davis faced separate opponents in the hot seat match and finals; Daniel Gambill and Stevie Moore, respectively. This year, he faced the same opponent, Jeff Abernathy, twice. Abernathy made it to the quarterfinals in 2016, before being defeated by Moore. This year, Abernathy found himself in a winners' side semifinal match against Corey Sykes, as Davis was squaring off against Delton Howard. Abernathy put up a double hill fight, but it was Sykes who advanced to the hot seat match against Davis, who'd sent Delton Howard to what proved to be a single, loss-side trip 9-4. Davis claimed the hot seat 9-5 and waited for Abernathy to get back.
Martin shut Kenny Miller out and advanced to the quarterfinals. Griffin was battling against Abernathy and came within a rack of forcing a single deciding game, but Abernathy pulled ahead late to win it 7-5. Abernathy then gave up only a single rack to Martin in those quarterfinals, and then eliminated Sykes 7-4 in the semifinals.
In somewhat predictable fashion, Davis and Abernathy went at each other tooth and nail to claim the NC State title. they battled to double hill before Davis closed it out to claim the NC State 9-Ball Championship title.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Brass Tap, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, Delta 13 Racks, AZBilliards and Professor Q Ball. The next stop on the Viking Cues' Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for this weekend (February 25-26), will be hosted by Borderline Billiards in Bristol, TN.
Chris Walsh and Daniel Gambill played two matches during the Saturday, February 4 stop on the Viking Cues' Q City 9-Ball Tour. Walsh took the first one to claim the hot seat and Gambill won the second in the first set of a true double elimination final. They opted out of a second set and split the top two prizes, leaving Walsh as the official winner. The event drew 45 entrants to Randolph's Billiards in Hickory, NC.
The first match followed a 9-3 victory by Gambill over Dustin Barkley, and a 7-2 win by Walsh over Rick Roper in the two winners' side semifinals. Walsh claimed the hot seat and his last match victory 7-3 over Gambill.
Barkley and Roper moved to the loss side and met up with Tim Monk and Brandon Canipe, respectively. Monk had downed Rocky Hawk 7-3 and Brian Capps 7-6 (Capps racing to 10) to draw Barkley. Canipe eliminated Jake Medlin 6-1 and Jeff Young 6-2 to draw Roper.
Barkley and Roper advanced to the quarterfinals; Barkley 6-1 over Monk, and Roper 7-5 over Canipe. Barkley gave up only a single rack to Roper in the quarterfinals that followed, and then had his short, loss-side streak ended 9-3 in a re-match against Gambill in the semifinals.
As noted at the outset, Gambill took the opening set of the finals 9-5 over Walsh. They left it at that, allowing to Walsh to claim the official event title, while the two split the first two cash prizes.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Randolph's Billiards, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, Delta 13 Racks, GoPlayPool.com, AZBilliards and Professor Q Ball. Parker also noted that through a combination of cash donations (approximately $800) and goods and services ($500) by local businesses, the tour was able to raise money to help long-time tour member and supporter, Josh Newman, in support of medical expenses for his mother, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer.
The next stop on the Viking Cues' Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for the weekend of February 11-12, will be a guaranteed $500-added event ($1,000-added with a full field of 48), hosted by Mister Cues II in Atlanta, GA.
It’s about leaving a legacy. Sure, there’s perks too. Like a getaway to Tampa, one of the premier vacation destinations in the world. An all-expenses paid trip to a pro event next year courtesy of the APA. Oh, and let’s not forget the championship trophy – a combination of marble and bronze that more closely resembles a piece of fine art than something awarded at a tournament.
But winning the U.S. Amateur Championship is all about the title. It’s about leaving one’s mark on the sport of pool. It’s about having your name and your accomplishment forever etched in history. That’s what drove more than 2,000 of North America’s top amateur players to try and qualify. That’s what brought 128 men and 33 women to Stroker’s in Palm Harbor, Fla., in early November to compete in this year’s U.S. Amateur Championship.
Parks Wins Record 4th Title
Brian Parks of Bakersfield, Calif., has already left his legacy on the sport. The three-time U.S. Amateur Champ had little to prove. He’d been there and done that.
That was before a then 68-year-old fellow Californian named Henry Brodt decided to come out of retirement to win his third U.S. Amateur Championship title in 2015 – tying Parks record. In his post-victory celebration, Brodt playfully “called out” Parks – who’d chosen not to compete last year. Aware of Brodt’s good-natured ribbing, Parks returned this year, determined not to share his unmatched excellence. Early on, he showed no rust from his one year hiatus. He was vintage Parks, going undefeated through the first two days of competition and knocking off some of the top players in the field including Troy Jones, Marvin Guss and Brett Stottlemyer.
Then came an unexpected setback – a loss to the up-and-coming James Adams of Brooksville, Fla., a potential heir apparent to the U.S. Amateur Championship throne. Parks would have to fight his way back through the one-loss bracket, and avenge his earlier round loss to Adams, to advance to the final round.
In the final round, Parks would face young Daniel Gambill of Hickory, N.C. Gambill, another U.S. Amateur Championship regular who’s poised to be part of the event’s next generation of perennial stars. Gambill had gone undefeated throughout the event and was playing arguably the best pool of his career.
The finale began in the 8-Ball set at Parks choosing. Gambill opened with two quick wins. Parks regrouped for two wins of his own. They’d go on to split the next four games and were dead-locked at 4-4 heading into the 9-Ball set. That’s where Parks shined. He won seven straight games, giving Gambill few chances at the table. What moments before looked like it might be a hill-hill nail-biter, was suddenly over faster than anyone expected. Parks had won 11-4, and secured his fourth U.S. Amateur Championship title.
A gracious Gambill was the first to congratulate him, understanding all too well who’d defeated him, and knowing that his time would eventually come.
Parks will compete in the 2017 U.S. Open, and his name will once again be added to the Larry Hubbart Trophy of Champions. Gambill finished as Runner-up, while Adams finished in 3rd Place – it was both players top finish in U.S. Amateur Championship competition.
Fernando Vaca of Gaithersburg, Va., finished in 4th Place. Brett Stottlemyer of Pasadena, Md., and David Singleton of Port Orange, Fla., tied for 5th Place.
[photo id=45563|align=right]Parker Takes Women’s Field By Storm
Generally it takes newcomers a few years of U.S. Amateur Championship competition to be in a position to take home the title. Maybe it’s the combination 8-Ball and 9-Ball format. Maybe it’s the level of competition. Whatever it is, it certainly wasn’t the case for Robin Parker of Birmingham, Ala. After failing to qualify in a Preliminary Round five years ago, Parker not only qualified, she steamrolled this year’s Women’s U.S. Amateur Championship field in just her first appearance. Parker went undefeated, taking out seasoned veterans like Dee Dee Copeland and former champion Betty Lea.
Her most difficult test would come from Jackie Blomlie of Ocala, Fla. Parker sent Blomlie to the one-loss bracket early on the final day of competition, but Blomlie would put herself in position to avenge the loss by ousting Lea for a spot in the final round.
In the finals, Blomlie got on the board first with a win in the 8-Ball set, and led 3-1 after four games. An unfazed Parker would take the next two games, and evened the match 3-3 as the ladies moved into the 9-Ball set. Blomlie again got on the board first in the 9-Ball set. Just when it looked as though she might open up the match, Parker rose to the occasion, and reeled off six straight wins for a dominating 9-4 win.
The victory secures Parker a spot in a 2017 WPBA pro event, while Blomlie had to settle for a strong Runner-up finish. Former champion Betty Lea (’06) finished in 3rd Place in her first U.S. Amateur Championship competition in several years.
Match coverage, including the finals, of this year’s U.S. Amateur Championship and Women’s U.S. Amateur Championship, can be found on the APA YouTube channel at youtube.com/apaleagues.
The entry window for the 2017 U.S. Amateur Championship will open April 1 with the Preliminary Rounds scheduled across North America in mid-September.
The 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship was conducted by the APA, and is the only tournament produced by the APA open to both members and non-members. Preliminary qualifying rounds were held throughout the country in mid-September.
As Champions, both Parks and Parker will return next year to defend their coveted titles.
The U.S. Amateur Championship is a double elimination tournament that offers the nation’s top amateur players the opportunity to showcase their skills through a combination of 8-Ball and 9-Ball matches, in the only APA event that does not use The Equalizer® handicap system.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, Mo., sanctions the world’s largest amateur pool league, with leagues throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. More than 250,000 members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9-Ball League play. The APA is generally recognized as the Governing Body of Amateur Pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards.
The APA produces three major tournaments each year—the APA World Pool Championships, the APA Poolplayer Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out more than $2 Million in cash and prizes annually!
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues and Pool Dawg.
Mike Davis is the current North Carolina 8-ball and 9-ball champion. His bid to successfully defend his 10-ball title, won in 2015, was derailed on the weekend of July 16-17 by Shannon Fitch, who came back from a defeat in a winners' side semifinal to battle Davis to a case game in the finals and win it. The $800-added North Carolina State Open 10-Ball Championships, held under the auspices of the Q City 9-Ball Tour, drew 52 entrants to Brass Tap and Billiards in Raleigh, NC.
The event itself was almost derailed by a power outage on Saturday that, instead of the normal dozen or so that might have returned to play on Sunday, forced the return of 30 competitors. Play resumed on Sunday, with both Fitch and Davis advancing to a winners' side semifinal; Fitch versus Matt Bulfin and Davis against Daniel Gambill.
Fitch moved to the loss side after a 7-4 victory by Bulfin. Davis advanced with a 7-2 victory over Gambill. As he had done last year, at the same location, Davis grabbed the hot seat. This time, with a 7-3 victory over Bulfin.
Fitch opened his three-match, loss-side campaign against renowned cue maker Daniel Heidrich, who, in the event's first money round, had defeated Corey Sykes 7-3 and then, eliminated 'young gun' (age 16) Hunter White. Gambill drew Kenny Miller, who'd defeated Chris Wilburn and Joshua Padron, both 7-5.
Fitch and Gambill chalked up identical 7-4 victories over Heidrich and Miller and advanced to the quarterfinals. Fitch took that contest 7-5 and then defeated Bulfin in the semifinals by the same score.
The final was a single race to 9, and it was clear from the start that it wasn't going to be easy. Fitch and Davis battled back and forth through numerous ties until they reached the final one at 8-8. Davis broke and came up dry. Fitch stepped to the table and ran it to claim the 2016 North Carolina State Open 10-Ball title.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Brass Tap, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, and Delta-13 Racks. The next stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for July 23, will be hosted by Brian's Billiards in Roanoke Rapids, NC.
Mike Davis is the current North Carolina State 10-Ball and 8-Ball Open Champion. He chalked up the 10-Ball title last July and the 8-Ball title this past November. On the weekend of February 13-14, he added the North Carolina State Open 9-Ball title to his resume. Davis went undefeated through a field of 52, on-hand for the $750-added event, held under the auspices of the Q City 9-Ball Tour, and hosted by Brass Tap & Billiards in Raleigh, NC.
There was a chance, going into the final rounds, that the opponents from last July's 10-Ball finals (Davis and Steve Page) would face each other again in this 9-Ball event. As they moved into the winners' side semifinals, though, Davis and Page were matched up against each other, preventing a repeat of last July's hot seat match, which went double hill with Davis prevailing. Davis sent Page to the loss side in this one 9-4, and in the hot seat match, faced Daniel Gambill, who'd just sent Randy Hatten over 9-2. Davis gave up only a single rack to Gambill and claimed the hot seat for the second year in a row.
On the loss side, Page, anxious for a rematch against Davis with three matches between him and that possibility, had the misfortune of running immediately into Stevie Moore. Moore, who'd lost his opening match to Mackey Lowery and was in the midst of a 10-match, loss-side winning streak that would take him to the finals, had defeated Josh Padron 9-5 and long-time adversary Keith Bennett 9-2 to reach Page. Hatten drew Jeff Abernathy, who'd gotten by A.J. Hertzog 9-5 and just did survive a double hill battle against Justin Martin.
Moore and Abernathy advanced to the quarterfinals; Moore 9-7 over Page and Abernathy 9-5 over Hatten. Moore then chalked up his 9th and 10th straight with 9-5 wins over Abernathy in those quarterfinals and Gambill in the semifinals. Davis completed his undefeated run at the NC State Open 9-Ball event with an 11-7 victory over Moore in the finals.
Daniel Gambill got sent to the loss side in the early going of the December 6 stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour. He moved over, won five straight and then double dipped hot seat occupant, Mackie Lowery to secure the event title. The event drew a short field of 12 entrants to Randolph Billiards in Hickory, NC.
Once Joey Fox had sent Gambill to the loss side 7-5, he moved on to a winners' side semifinal versus Jody Musselman. Lowery, in the meantime, faced Rick Roper. Mussleman downed Fox 7-3, and in the battle for the hot seat, faced Lowery, who'd sent Roper to the loss side 8-4. Lowery claimed the hot seat 8-5 and waited on the return of Gambill.
Gambill's loss-side journey to the finals began with a 9-4 victory over Wayne Church and was followed by a double hill win over John Ailstock. This set Gambill up to face Roper, while Fox squared off against Zach Hampton, who'd defeated Brent Stembridge 9-4 and Randy Canipe 8-4, to reach him.
A Gambill/Fox re-match was avoided when Gambill defeated Roper 9-5 and Hampton, having been sent to the loss side by Fox in a shutout, returned the favor and shut Fox out 9-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. Gambill took the quarterfinal match 9-5 over Hampton and then defeated Musselman 9-4 in the semifinals.
Gambill allowed Lowery only one rack over 19 games in the double elimination finals. He shut Lowery out 9-0 in the opening set, and allowed the single rack in the second set to claim the event title.
