Travis Solvetti got into the hot seat, and then gave up the first match of a double elimination final to Lance Kellogg, before rallying to take the second set and claim the Western New York Tour stop title on Saturday, March 22. The event, hosted by Premium Billiards in Syracuse, NY, drew 16 entrants.

 

Solvetti defeated Angelo Innis in a winners' side final four battle, as Kellogg was engaged in a 6-4 win over Jared Zimmer. Solvetti took the first of three against Kellogg 7-5 and waited in the hot seat for his return.

 

Innis moved over to pick up Don Purdy, who'd defeated tour director Nick Brucato 8-3 and Jeff Montgomery 7-5 to reach him. Zimmer drew Brett Fenstermaker, who'd gotten by Ibo Eng 6-3 and Dano Veinot 6-4.  Innis got right back to work on the loss side with a 7-3 win over Purdy, as Fenstermaker was busy eliminating Zimmer 6-3.

 

Innis and Fenstermaker locked up in a double hill, quarterfinal fight, eventually won by Innis, who was then defeated by Kellogg 7-4 in the semifinals. Kellogg and Silvetti fought back and forth to double hill in the opening set of the finals, with Kellogg prevailing to force a second set. They came within a game of a second double hill set, but Silvetti edged out in front to win it 7-5 and claim the event title.

Dave Grau took down two different opponents in a hot seat battle and finals to capture the top prize in a Western New York Tour stop on Saturday, September 14. The event drew 24 entrants to Camelot Billiards in Rochester, NY.

 

Grau's hot seat opponent was tour director Nick Brucato. Grau had sent Cory Gray west 8-5, while Brucato was sending Ron Casanzio over 8-4. Grau defeated Brucato 8-5 and waited in the hot seat for what turned out to be the return of Casanzio.

 

Gray moved and ran into Mark Creamer, who'd defeated Don Purdy and Rich Fontinez, both 6-4. Costanzio drew Kyle Bova, who'd eliminated Joe Herring 8-3 and Tito Ortiz 8-4. Creamer advanced to the quarterfinals 6-4 over Gray and was met by Casanzio, who'd defeated Bova 8-1. 

 

Casanzio stopped Creamer's loss-side ambitions 8-3 in those quarterfinals, and then ended Brucato's hopes for a finals re-match with Gray, winning the semifinal matchup 8-6. Grau, though, stopped Casanzio, winning the final contest 8-4 to claim the event title.