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Bova and Kennedy split top prizes on J. Pechauer Southeast Open 9-Ball Tour

Kyle Bova and Tommy Kennedy

Proving that you can never count wily veterans out, Tommy Kennedy won 10 matches on the loss side during the Saturday, August 3 stop on the J. Pechauer Southeast Open 9-Ball Tour and earned the right to challenge hot seat occupant Kyle Bova for the event title. The final match never happened, as Kennedy and Bova opted out of a final match and split the top two prizes. In another ‘veteran’ note, the event itself offered Vietnam veterans free entry and in the end, awarded two Vietnam veterans – Ronny Park and Joe Scarborough – $50, which they split. The $1,000-added event drew 40 entrants to Brewland’s Billiards in North Lakeland, FL.
 
With Kennedy at work on the loss side, having been defeated by Felix Luna in the opening round of play, Bova settled in, advancing to a winners’ side semifinal match against Ashley Chewcaskie. Rhyan Hunter and Jeremy Bell squared off in the other one.
 
Bova downed Chewcaskie 7-1 and in the hot seat match, faced Hunter, who’d survived a double hill match versus Bell and sent him off to an immediate match against Kennedy. Bova shut Hunter out to claim the hot seat in what proved to be his final match.
 
On the loss side, Bell drew the ‘wily veteran,’ Kennedy, seven matches into his 10-match, loss-side winning streak that had most recently included victories over one of the Vietnam veterans, Joe Scarborough, 6-4 and Dennis Brown 6-2. Chewcaskie picked up Nathan Rose, who’d recently eliminated the other Vietnam veteran, Ronny Park 6-3 and Steve Wiggam 6-2.
 
Kennedy and Rose advanced to the quarterfinals; Kennedy, 6-3 over Bell and Rose, 6-2 over Wiggam. It was eight down and two to go for Kennedy, as he chalked up loss-side victory # 9 against Rose. Not, as it turned out, without a fight, though. They battle back and forth to a deciding 11th game, won by Kennedy.
 
In what was the last match of the event, Kennedy completed his loss-side run with a 6-3 win over Hunter in the semifinals. Kennedy and Bova decided on the split, awarded Bova the official event title, snapped their picture and away they went.
 
Kennedy thanked the ownership and staff at Brewland’s for their hospitality, as well as title sponsor J. Pechauer Custom Cues, Simonis Cloth, Mueller Recreational Products and Tournamentsnearme.com.
 

Crosby outduels The Rocket to win Florida Pool Tour stop

Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Rocky McElroy and Tony Crosby

Meglino goes undefeated to claim Amateur title
 
After a double hill battle that left Rodney Morris in the hot seat, Florida Pool Tour director, Tony Crosby kept a semifinal appointment with Johnny Archer, defeated him and came back to down Morris in the finals. The $1,000-added Super 16 event ($500 to winner in the form of paid entry to the Tornado Open), was held on Sunday, April 24, and actually drew 22 entrants to Capone's in Spring Hill, FL.
 
In a $1,000-added, Amateur event, held on Saturday, April 23 (same location), Anthony Meglino went undefeated through a field of 83 to claim that title.
 
The first of the Crosby/Morris battles followed two 7-4 wins by them in the winners' side semifinals. Crosby, defeating Mike Delawder, and Morris, sending Tommy Kennedy to the loss side. Morris won the double hill, hot seat fight and waited on Crosby's return.
 
On the loss side, Kennedy picked up long-time rival/former road partner Johnny Archer, who'd eliminated Richard Broumpton 7-4 and Donnie Mills 7-5 to reach him. Delawder drew Meglino, who'd already won the Amateur event and here, sent Jason Richko (7-4) and Han Berber (7-3) home. Delawder and Meglino locked up in a double hill battle that eventually sent Delawder to the quarterfinals against Archer, who'd defeated Kennedy 7-2. Archer advanced a step further with a 7-4 victory over Delawder, but had his bid for the title ended by Crosby 7-4 in the semifinals.
 
Things weren't looking too good for Crosby when the finals opened with three straight racks for Morris. But Crosby responded, not only tying it at 3-3, but chalking up three more for a three-rack lead, which he'd never relinquish. At 6-3, they both won two more racks, and Crosby had the title.
 
In the Amateur event, Meglino advanced to a winners' side semifinal against Raymond Linares, while Kyle Bova and Dan Marchini squared off. Meglino and Bova advanced to the hot seat match, both 7-2, over Linares and Marchini. Meglino then defeated Bova 7-3, and waited on what turned out to be an opponent he'd sent to the loss side in a winners' side quarterfinal, Francisco Diaz.
 
Diaz had moved to the left bracket and defeated Mike Kohn 5-2 and John Souders 5-3 to draw Marchini. Linares picked up Felix Luna, who'd gotten by Justin Stock and Jason Hunt, both 5-3. Diaz then survived a double hill battle versus Marchini, as Luna eliminated Linares 5-3.
 
Diaz took the quarterfinal match over Luna 5-2 and then denied Bova a re-match versus Meglino with a double hill win in the semifinals. 
 
Meglino completed his undefeated run with a double hill win in the finals. The victory, combined with his later 5th place finish in the Super 16 event, notched his winnings to just over $1,000 for the weekend.
Tour director Tony Crosby thanked Capone's owner Rocky McElroy and his staff for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Aramith, Simonis, Stroke-It Wear, Florida Pool Table Movers, and Billiards and Darts Supply. A "super-special" thank you went out to Xtreme Pool Challenge for the work and effort that went into their producing one of the best live streams in the country.
 
The Florida Pool Tour and Xtreme Pool Challenge will be at Park Avenue Billiards in Orange Park, FL on the weekend of May 14-15. The event – Super 32 – will be an Open 10-Ball Championship with a $5,000 first prize. Call 727-488-0536 or 904-200-5843 for more information or to pay your entry fee. You can also visit the tour Website at www.floridapooltour.com. 

“The Rocket” gets by Deuel twice to take 1st Capone’s Super 32 Open 10-Ball Championships

Rodney Morris, Rocky McElroy and Corey Deuel

"The Rocket," otherwise known as Rodney Morris, has been chalking up his frequent flyer miles, not to mention pool shooting titles, all over the country this year. He's won three stops on the Mezz West Tour, along with the Chinook Winds (Oregon) Open 10-Ball Championships, and the 8th Wyoming Masters 10-Ball. He was third behind Dennis Orcollo and Mike Dechaine at the US Open 8-Ball Championships in Vegas, and third in the Jay Swanson Memorial Tournament out in Bellflower, CA. He's also pocketed his share of prize money in East Coast events, like Turning Stone XXIII (7th), the 4th Annual Steinway Classic (7th), the American 14:1 Championships in Virginia (9th), the Super Billiards Expo Players Championship and US Open 9-Ball Championships (13th in both). 
 
In the weekend prior to Thanksgiving (November 21-22), he joined familiar opponents like Johnny Archer, Josh Roberts, Donny Mills, and Mike Davis in the $2,500-added, 1st Annual Super 32 10-Ball Championships, held under the auspices of the Florida Pool Tour and hosted by Capone's in Spring Hill, FL. He battled Corey Deuel twice and finished undefeated to claim the title.
 
He and Deuel met first in the hot seat. Deuel had sent Roberts to the loss side, double hill, as Morris was downing Florida Pool Tour director Tony Crosby 9-1 in the winners' side semifinals. In their first of two, Morris defeated Deuel 9-4, and sat in the hot seat, awaiting his return, which, based on the loss-side field still left in the hunt, wasn't exactly a sure thing.
 
Still left, as Roberts and Crosby moved over, were Archer and Davis. Archer had eliminated Stony Stone 9-4 and Felix Luna 9-5 to reach Roberts. Davis had gotten by Anthony Meglino 9-5 and just did outlast Donny Mills, double hill, to pick up Crosby. Crosby and Roberts went right back to work; Crosby downing Davis 9-1 and Roberts ending Archer's weekend 9-5.
 
Roberts defeated Crosby 9-5 in the quarterfinals, and then had his short, two-match, loss-side run ended in the semifinals by Deuel 9-6. In a single race to 11, Morris defeated Deuel a second time, 11-4, to claim the title.
 
The Florida Pool Tour thanked Rocky McElroy and the staff at Capone’s for hosting this inaugural event and for providing some great service, great food, and great times. Capone’s, said tour representatives, has been a staple room for many pro and regional tours in Florida for years, and has raised a stable of professional players including Morris and Deuel. They suggested that if you're in the Spring Hill area, you should visit Capone's and support the room.  Special thanks went out to Jimi and Janene Phillips, and the Central Florida BCA Leagues & USAPL for sponsoring this event. Tour representatives thanked Xtreme Pool Challenge, Gary Patrick and his staff, for their time and effort in producing an outstanding streaming experience; five tables in HD quality, free of charge.
 
The next event on the Florida Pool Tour, scheduled for January 16-17, 2016 at ZIngale's Billiards and Sports Bar in Tallahassee, FL will be the $5,000-added Florida State Open 10-Ball Championship. Visit www.floridapooltour.com for more information and 'Like' Florida Pool Tour on Facebook for updates.

 

Sheerman and Kennedy knock down heavy opposition in Palm Harbor

Stroker’s Billiards and Sports Bar welcomed the Florida Pool Tour on it’s first stop of the season this weekend. Saturday’s Amateur 9-Ball event drew 71 entrants while Sunday’s Super 16 10-Ball event was pre-booked with a full field. 
 
The Amateur 9-Ball event was stacked with talented pool players and lots of auction action. A recipe for excellent pool all weekend long. Quite a few new faces had breakout results during this event. Naples player Francisco Diaz, Top FL Lady Player Chris Fields, and Tampa local Mitchell Keiser.
 
In it’s new format, the Super 16 10-Ball Event would host a complete field to some of the best talent in the country. After placing 2nd in the Amateur, James Adams would look strong and hungry to snap off this event. 
 
Top 8 Breakdown
 
James Adams after recently taking 3rd place in the Florida State Amateur 9-Ball Championships showed up to play this weekend. Posting wins over Amine Ouahbi 7-2, Javier Chirino “The Trophy Maker” 7-4, local player Dave Stem 7-4, a hill-hill thriller with Dan Marchini, and finally 7-4 over Rich Johnson would find himself battling Mitchell Keiser for the hotseat. Showing up to that match primed and hungry, Adams would put the set away at 7-3. 
 
Mitchell Keiser would find a way to grind out wins over Mark Wathen 7-4, Michael Stack 7-2, before capturing a $25 bounty on Mike DeLawder besting him 7-5, survived a hill-hill thriller with Miami area player Felix Luna and find a groove against Naples, FL native Francisco Diaz all before falling to James Adams 7-3 allowing James to have the hotseat and awaiting Jason Sheerman on the westside of the chart. 
 
Rich Johnson would have an impressive 5 rounds deep into the winner side. Winning over Jason Richko 7-3, David Uwate 7-5, Daniel Grider 7-4, and Jim Sandaler, all before falling to James Adams. Johnson would not complete another match as the winnder. Jason Sheerman would beat him in a hill-hill match and complete Rich’s weekend. 
 
Upstart player from Naples, FL Francisco Diaz would show some promise and post wins over Lisa McElroy 7-2, Justin Gilsinan 7-4, Finnish player Antti Mattilla 7-4 before falling to Lady Player Chris Fields in a hill/hill thriller. Then falling to Mitchell Keiser7-5. Diaz would then choose to forfeit out of the tournament for unknown reasons. 
Dan Marchini would win against Tony Rowells 7-2, Lee Holland 7-4, Allen Ellison 7-3, Dave Ross 7-3, before falling to James Adams in a hill/hill thriller. On the westside he would pick up George Saunders, but would not take the set, letting Saunders pass with a 5-0, securing 8th place. 
 
George Saunders would put a string of wins together after losing to Dave Stem 7-1. On the one-loss side he would beat Luke Sutliffe 5-4, Mike Lear 5-2, Jim Sandaler 5-3, Dan Marchini 5-0, Francisco Diaz 5-0, before falling to Jason Sheerman 5-2, securing 4th place. 
 
Felix Luna would risk a loss with a hill/hill thriller against Junior Player Trenton White, Jason Bowen 7-5, falling to Nathan Rose 7-4. On the one-loss side Luna would pick up Gary Gilsinan and squeak that one out, only to fall next to Jason Sheerman again hill/hill. 
 
Jason Sheerman had a design that was all his own this weekend. He would lose to Nathan Rose in the second round and then went on to grind out 10 matches in a row to reach the one-loss side final against Mitchell Keiser. Sheerman would go on to beat Keiser and secure his first Amateur 9-Ball title in 5 years, and it just so happens it was at Stroker’s Palm Harbor that he claimed his first victory. Sweet homecoming for Sheerman indeed. 
 
Super 16 Recap
 
James Adams had one thing on his mind this weekend and it showed, it was winning. James had a great run into the finals of the Amateur 9-Ball event and then proceeded to build a charge in the first Super 16 event. 
 
For starters we have Adam Wheeler winning against Donny Mills in a hill/hill thriller. Then he would meet up with Raymond Linares who dispatched Mitch Breedlove 8-3. James Adams would have a hill/hill thriller with Mike DeLawder and wait for Han Berber who had just finished a winning set over Tony Crosby 8-6, an upset since Tony was on a 5-1 deficit. Would not have enough to complete the charge. Jason Richko would best Eddie Sharp 8-4 and wait for Tommy Kennedy to steamed rolled Tim Parisian 8-1. James Roberts would send room owner Jose Del Rio down the hard path 8-4 and wait for Nathan Rose who bested Jason Sheerman 8-6. 
 
Now on the westside, we have Mills and Breedlove, with Donny winning 7-5. DeLawder would then win the set against Crosby 7-4. Tim Parisian would best Sharp 7-2 and Jose Del Rio would march on past Sheerman in a hill/hill thriller. 
 
Back on the eastside, James Adams and Raymond Linares would square off for a chance at the hotseat. Linares would take his first loss in a hill/hill thriller. Adams would be in the second hotseat match in 2 days. On the lower half, Tommy Kennedy and James Roberts would battle for the hotseat, if you call it a battle. Kennedy runs away with the set 8-2.
 
Back on the one-loss side, DeLawder picks up Linares and Linares pushes through 7-5. Jose Del Rio picks up James Roberts and this time puts him away. Del Rio and Linares would fight for a chance to play and jump back over to the eastside. 
 
Back on the winners side, Kennedy and Adams would square off in a close one. Adams wouldnt have enought to stop TK and would go west to meet up with the winner of the one-loss side hotseat. That would be Raymond Linares.
 
After some super slow play, Linares and Adams actually get put on the shot clock and turns would trade. With the pressure of the shot clock, uncharacteristic misses and nerve controlling runouts would put Linares and Adams hill/hill. In the middle of what would seem a routine runout, the sound of a miscue coming from Linares’ cue would resonate throughout the pool room as he left a 4 ball runout to Adams with ball in hand. Adams would finish the set and prepare to take on Kennedy in the final. This would be 2 tournaments in 2 days and 2 finals for Adams. 
 
Now in the finals, Kennedy and Adams trade a couple of racks, with Kennedy expressing his creative side of the game. Creating angles and playing combos, this would put Kennedy up 4-1. Adams would fight back with pressured safeties and consistent shot making. At 6-6 Kennedy would pull away. In the early hours of Monday morning, 2 days of super solid play would seem to weigh heavy on Adams shoulders. Taking advantage of one too many mistakes by Adams, Kennedy would secure his first Super 16 Title of 2015 just before daybreak on the horizon.
 
 
The Florida Pool Tour would like to thank Jose Del Rio and the staff at Stroker’s Palm Harbor for the wonderful hospitality all weekend long. Combined with amazing restaurant quality food, you cannot find a place that can beat that. Stroker’s Palm Harbor has been an anchor stop on the Florida Pool Tour for years as well as the host location for the US Amateur Championships for the last 5 years. Give Jose and the family there a visit and see for yourself why this is perhaps one of the best pool rooms in the country. 
 
Xtreme Pool Challenge came through with another amazing weekend of LIVE HD quality streaming. We want to thank Gary Patrick and crew for producing one of the best streams available and the best prices around. $5 for an entire weekend of fantastic HD coverage is by far a steal in this industry. By supporting Gary and XPC you are supporting the future of pool and the future of this pool tour. 

Moore wins second straight shootout victory on Poison Tour

Raymond Linares, Tony Crosby and Trevor Moore

Last month (April), Trevor Moore won a stop on the Poison Tour (Amateur) by winning a single-rack shootout, necessitated when his loss-side opponent in the finals (Jason Richko) won their first meeting in those finals. On the weekend of May 18-19, Moore did it again, this time against Raymond Linares. The $1,000-added Amateur event, run in conjunction with an Open/Pro event (on-going as this report was being filed) drew 62 entrants to Cunningham Pool & Darts in Vero Beach, FL.

 
From among the winners' side final four, with Linares at work on the six-game, loss-side winning streak that would take him to the finals, Moore met up with Sam Kantar, who'd sent Linares over. Carlos Torres and Cal McGann squared off in the other winners' side semifinal. Moore downed Kantar 6-1, and Torres sent McGann west 6-4. Moore got into the hot seat with a 6-1 victory over Torres and waited on the return of Linares.
 
In the meantime, Linares was working on his streak. He got by Chip Dickerson 5-3 and shut out Chris Gentile to pick up McGann. Kantar drew Felix Luna, who'd survived a double hill match against Jason Sheerman and defeated Marcus Shenandoah 5-3.
 
Linares earned his quarterfinal rematch against Kantar with a double hill win over McGann, as Kantar was busy ending Luna's day 5-3. Linares took advantage of that re-match, defeating Kantar 5-1, and moving on to defeat Torres in the semifinals, 5-1.
 
Linares chalked up his third double hill win in the opener of the finals against Moore. Moore, though, for the second time in a little over a month, took the single rack shootout to claim the event title.