Richie Somner came back from the semifinals of the December 7-8 stop on the Great Southern Billiard Tour, to take both sets of a true double elimination final from Greg Dix and capture his first GSBT title. The $1,000-added event drew 32 entrants to Shore Thing Billiards in Myrtle Beach, SC.

 

Somner worked his way through to a winners' side semifinal against Gatlin Haskins, while Dix took on Jamie Spivey. Dix won 9-3, and was met in the hot seat match by Somner, who'd defeated Haskins 7-4.  With Somner racing to 7, Dix took the first of his three against him, handily, 9-3, and sat in the hot seat to await his return.

 

Haskins moved to the loss side and met up with B.J. Hucks, who'd gotten by Matt Collins 9-2 and survived a double hill battle against Chris Gentile. Spivey picked up Jim Grey, who'd defeated Justin Martin 6-5 and Anthony Ballario 6-4.

 

Grey and Haskins advanced to the quarterfinals, once Grey had eliminated Spivey 6-2 and Haskins had sent Hucks home 9-5. With Haskins racing to 9, Grey squeaked by him in a double hill battle that sent him to the semifinals. Somner ended Grey's loss-side winning streak with a 7-4 win that earned him a second shot against Dix.

 

With Dix racing to 9, Somner won the opening set of the finals 7-6. He allowed Dix one more rack in the second set, winning it 7-7 to capture his first GSBT title.

 

Tour director Shannon Daulton thanked the ownership and staff at Shore Thing Billiards for their ongoing support and hospitality, as well as sponsors Nick Varner Cues & Cases, Delta 13 Racks, Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Tiger Products, Ozone Billiards and Lomax Custom Cues.

 

The Great Southern Billiard Tour will host its 7th Annual Tour Championship beginning on Friday, Dec. 13, at Michael's Billiards in Fairfield, OH. With $5,000 guaranteed prize money up for grabs, it's the tour's biggest event. Anybody looking for further information about this event should call Shannon Daulton at 865-850-4572, or log on to the tour's Web site at www.greatsouthernbilliardtour.com.

 

B.J. Hucks stopped a three-match, loss-side winning streak by David Tootle, defeating him in the second and deciding set of a true double elimination final to capture the November 9-10 stop on the Great Southern Billiard Tour. The $800-added event drew 29 entrants to Shore Thing Billiards in Myrtle Beach, SC.

 

Hucks and Tootle were both among the winners' side final four, but not against each other. Hucks defeated Phillip Britt 8-5, as Romey Malonzo sent Tootle west 6-5. Hucks got into the hot seat 8-2 over Malonzo, and waited on the return of Tootle.

 

Tootle began his loss-side march against Mike Slaughter, who'd defeated Greg Little 8-3 and Justin Martin 8-2, to reach him. Britt met up with Jim Grey, who'd gotten by Don Strickland 6-5 (Strickland racing to 7), and Hope Gillium 6-2. Tootle and Slaughter locked up in a double hill battle, eventually won by Tootle, while Britt was busy eliminating Grey 9-2.

 

With Britt racing to 9, Tootle took the quarterfinal match 6-6, and then downed Malonzo, double hill in the semifinals. He took the opening set of the true double elimination final 6-2. Hucks came back to win the second set 8-4 to claim the event title.