The Fifth Annual Big Tyme Classic held April 13th-16th, 2017 in Spring, Texas paid out over $23,000
Thursday, April 13th kicked off with a single elimination, $1,000 added, 31-player, One Pocket Tournament. Joey Gray come out with the win over Danny Smith. To get to the finals, Joey ousted Kevin Chang, Tommy Tokoph, Josh Roberts and Tony Chohan. Danny Smith made his way to meet Joey in the finals with wins over Evan Lunda, Jim McCarry and Sky Woodward.
Friday, April 14th, 25 players entered the $1.000 added, single elimination Banks Tournament. Chip Compton took it down over Sky Woodward in the final match up. Chip had notable wins over Richie Richeson, Lynn Smith, Tony Chohan, and Justin Hall. Sky made his way through the bracket with wins over Billy Thorpe, Jeff Deluna, Danny Smith, and Alex Olinger before falling short to Chip in the finals.
1st$1.600Chip Compton,
2nd$900Sky Woodward
3rd/4th$500Alex Olinger, Justin Hall
5th/8th$250Kevin Chang, Danny Smith, Jamie Ferrell, and Tony Chohan
The Main Event $5,000 added, 9 Ball Open, commenced Friday evening. The Diamond bar table event, streamed live by PoolActiontv, drew 128 players. Billy Thorpe would go undefeated to take home the title and big payday. Billy barreled through the bracket with wins over Philip Tieu, James Davis Jr., Ronnie Wiseman, Cody Martin, Sky Woodward, Shane McMinn and Jeffrey Deluna, securing his spot in the finals. Jeff had a nice run with wins over Paul Alderete, Andy Lerma, Johnny Griffin, Robb Saez, Charlie Bryant, Eklent Kaci. After losing the hot seat match, he faced Sky Woodward in the semi-finals. Jeff came out victorious to meet Billy in the final match up. Jeff had his work cut out for him as Billy was determined to not let it go to two sets.
1stBilly Thorpe$4,000/$15,460
2ndJeff Deluna$2,000/$7,600
3rdSky Woodward$1,400/$5,660
4thShane McMinn$1,000/$4,000
5th/6thJeremy Jones and Eklent Kaci$700/$2,180 each
7th/8thSylver Ochoa and Charlie Bryant$400/$1,280 each
9th-12thAlex Olinger, Kevin Chang, Manny Chau, and Danny Smith$200/$640 each
Sunday kicked off with the one-day, $500 added Seniors Division. Ronnie Wiseman takes the title through a tough field of 23 players. Wiseman would win the hot seat match over Jamie Farrell. The loss sent him to the B side to face Cliff Joyner. Farrell ousted Joyner to get back to the finals against Wiseman but fell short, leaving Ronnie Wiseman the Champion.
The final event of the Big Tyme Classic was the Ladies Division. 20 talented ladies competed for the title in the $500 added event. Kim Pierce secured the hot seat with a win over Robyn Petrosino. Petrosino would face Teresa Garland on the B side. Taking the win here, she would face Pierce once again in the final match up. The “TexasHeat” fought hard and came out victorious to take the title.
Big Tyme Billiards would like to thank the players, spectators, fans and staff for another successful event. Special thanks to Teresa Garland and Marshal Ward, Tournament Directors. We also extend our gratitude to the sponsors of this event, PoolActionTV, Star City Amusement, and APA of North Harris County. We truly appreciate the vendors who attended as well, Jerry Olivier and Bryant Billiards. We look forward to the 2018 6th Annual Big Tyme Classic!
Johnny Griffin was the big story at the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour Fall 9-Ball Event, going undefeated in the 48-player, amateur 9-ball division, besting John McDowell in the final, 7-4. Filipino Champion, Edward “Ed” Acaba, captured his 38-player open 9-ball division, defeating Houston’s Blaine Barcus in overtime, 7-6. Congratulations to both players, who captured their first Poison Lone Star Tour event titles!
On September 10th-11th, 2016, Bogies Billiards West, along with tour title sponsor Poison by Predator Cues www.poisonbilliards.com, and sponsors Delta-13 Rack www.delta-13.com, Ozone Billiards www.ozonebilliards.com, APA of North Harris County www.facebook.com/apanorthharriscounty, and Cyclop Billiard Balls www.facebook.com/CyclopPoolBalls, facilitated another successful Poison Lone Star Tour event, procuring a generous $1,000 added to the prize fund, with 86 players in attendance.
In the amateur 9-ball division, Brazoria, Texas, APA franchise owner Johnny Griffin came out firing with wins over Bodie Scott, Chris Young, Jack Cavalier, and Tony Benestante, 7-3. Also on his way to the final four winners’ side, local Filipino player, Rudy Pascal, took down Chris Lord, Josh White, Rafael Garcia, and Brock Temel, 7-1. Sonny Bosshamer made quick work of Steve Williams, 7-4, Bob DeTuncq, 7-3, and Victor Belmares, 7-5, while Marvin Diaz ousted David Chow, 7-4, Teddy Hernandez, 7-4, and Gerardo Alvarez, 7-3. On the one loss side, after losing his first match to Williams, 7-3, John McDowell won four consecutive matches, eliminating Young, Hernandez, Tony Scott, and Alberto DeLeon. Pete Charles was also on the come-back trail, ousting Will Felder and Chris Rogers, while John Murphy took down Rafael Garcia and Chuck Adams, only to succumb to J.C. Torres, 5-3. Cavalier made a run for the money, taking down Jacob Watson, 5-3, and Pablo Trinidad, 5-4. McDowell went on to eliminate Temel and Charles by the same score, 5-4, while Charles ended Benestante. It was Torres over Alvarez, 5-3, and Belmares over Cavalier, 5-4. As the one-loss side, final four took shape, on the east side, Bosshamer bested Diaz, 7-5, and Griffin dusted off Pascal, 7-2. For his seventh, consecutive victory on the one-loss side, McDowell bested Diaz, 5-3, while Torres upset Pascal, 5-1. The hot seat witnessEd Griffin edge-out Bosshamer, 7-6, while McDowell logged his eighth, consecutive match win against Torres, 5-4. McDowell overcame Bosshamer, 5-2, for a record-breaking 9 consecutive match wins, to meet Griffin in the final. Griffin stopped McDowell just short of the goal line, ending his run in the first and final match, 7-4. Congratulations to Johnny Griffin on capturing his first-ever, Poison Lone Star Tour event!
In the open 9-ball division, world renowned Filipino player, Ed Acaba made his way through the winners’ side defeating Will Felder, 9-8, Doug Young, 9-1, and Amar Kang, 9-6, while Denis Strickland bested Sonny Bosshamer, Jack Cavalier, and Brock Temel, 9-7. Ernesto Bayaua, determined to win his third event of the year, took out Pete Charles, 9-4, Bodie Scott, 9-1, Jacob Watson, 9-7, and Aldo Rosso, 9-3, while Danny Lee overcame Josh White, Chuck Adams, 9-1, and Blaine Barcus, 9-8. On the one-loss side, Young bested Barcus, and Kang eliminated Johnny Griffin, 9-4. Barcus went on to defeat Strickland, 7-6, while Lee upset Kang, 7-5. Back on the east side, hot seat action witnessed Acaba and Bayau, battling it out to the bitter end. An impeccable safety on the one ball, by Acaba, resulted in ball-in-hand, and the demise of Bayaua, 9-8. On the on-loss side, Barcus demolished Lee, 7-1, and followed up with Bayaua, 7-2. After 5 consecutive match wins, Barcus had earned himself a shot at the title. Acaba and Barcus teed off in the finals. The first set was tight and grueling, and play was nearly flawless. Towards the end, Barcus pulled ahead to win, 9-6. In overtime, although Barcus was the first to reach the hill, Acaba emerged victorious, 7-6. Congratulations to Ed Acaba on capturing his first-ever, Poison Lone Star Tour event!
The Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour would like to thank, and welcome all the new players who attended this event. The next PLST stop will be the finale event, on October 8th-9th, 2016, held at Bogies Billiards and Sports Bar, located at 3040 FM 1960 E., Ste. 101, Houston, Texas 77073. The Poison Lone Star Tour encourages everyone who loves to play pool and compete in a friendly atmosphere, to attend an event. For more information, visit LoneStarBilliardsTour.com. “Like” us on Facebook @LoneStarTour and “Follow” us on Twitter @LoneStarTour09.
Jim Bishop went undefeated at the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour event, held on May 14th-15th, 2016, decimating the 64-player amateur 9-ball division, besting Houston’s Pete Charles in the final round, 6-5. Currently stationed in Houston for work, Bishop hales from Mobile, Alabama, and although he’s played in previous Lone Star events, he has never actually won an event, until now. Former tour champion, Andy Jethwa, overcame APA Nationals Champion, Ernesto Bayaua, in the final, 7-6, earning Jethwa his second, consecutive open division win this year.
The event was hosted by Ariana’s in Houston, Texas, and along with tour sponsors Poison by Predator Cues www.poisonbilliards.com, Delta-13 Rack www.delta-13.com, Ozone Billiards www.ozonebilliards.com, and the APA of North Harris County www.facebook.com/apanorthharriscounty, facilitated a very successful event. Ariana’s catered to 74 Poison Lone Star Tour players (along with 31 Gulf Coast Tour women) adding a generous $1,000 to the prize fund, offering free play on all their bar tables, and providing free food the entire event. The tour would like to thank Ariana’s owners, Minh and Bill Hammond, and their entire staff, for their gracious hospitality, and years of continued support!
With 105 players in the building and only 12 bar tables, action was slow moving on Saturday, and races were modified on Sunday in order for the event to conclude at a reasonable hour. In the amateur 9-ball division, Jim Bishop put on a solid performance, taking down a list of event hopefuls on his way to the hot seat, including Ryan Garcia, Josh White, Rocky Skuca, 6-2, and Johnny Griffin, 6-2. Junior player, Jacob Watson, bested Curt Bovenzi, 6-4, and Kenneth Price, 6-1, to meet Bishop in the final four on the winners’ side. Pete Charles was on a roll, logging wins over Mike Singleton, Jose Gonzales, 7-1, Danny Roland, 6-3, and Brock Temel, 6-4. In similar form, Mark Wanner made his way to the final four, ousting Chase Wheeler, David Leal, 7-6, Tommy Aramburo, 6-1, and Brandon Bilbo, 6-5. As the final four shaped up on the winners’ side, players were making their way through the one-loss side. After losing his first match to Laredo’s Martin Ramos, Ray Reeves won an incredible 6 consecutive matches, including victories over Bruce Solf, 5-0, Adam Cooper, 4-1, Charlie Jenkins, 4-2, and Kenneth Price, 4-3. Reeves was stopped short by Johnny Griffin, 4-2. After a third round loss to Bishop, Rocky Scuka won four in a row, eliminating Chuck Adams, BryanTilley, 4-1, Brandon Bilbo, 4-2, and Lester Foy, 4-1. Back on the east side, Charles overcame Wanner, 6-3, while Bishop sent Watson west, 6-1. It was a harrowing battle for the hot seat, as Bishop narrowly escaped Charles, 6-5. On the west side, Griffin defeated Wanner, 4-1, while Skuca ended Watson, 4-3. Griffin eliminated Skuca, 4-1, but was ousted by Charles, 4-3. And with that win, Charles earned himself a shot at redemption. As the rematch between Bishop and Charles commenced, it appeared to be a similar “tug-of-war” session, as each took turns executing strategic safeties and cinching any open tables. Once again, Bishop came out ahead, denying Charles, 6-5. Congratulations to Jim Bishop, who went undefeated to secure his first-ever, Poison Lone Star Tour victory!
In the 60-player open 9-ball division, Andy Jethwa was on a quest to conquer. His path of destruction included wins over Jim Bishop, Kris Modisette, 9-6, Martin Ramos, 7-2, and Mark Wanner, 7-1. Johnny Griffin plowed through Will Felder, Mark Cardenas, Alex Cardenas, 7-2, and Chris Thompson, 7-2, to meet Jethwa in the final four winners’ side. Ernesto Bayaua took the bull by the horns, defeating Lester Foy, 7-5, Chuck Adams, 7-4, and Brock Temel, 7-2. After recovering from serious health issues, Mike Singleton rejoined the tour and was back on track, besting Kenneth Price, Rene Rodriguez, 9-3, Jacob Watson, 7-3, and Tony Benestante. As the final four on the winners’ side rounded out, Watson rolled on the west side eliminating M. Cardenas, 5-4, Wanner, 5-4, and Guzik, 5-2. After a second round loss to Brock Temel, 9-7, Chase Wheeler won 6 consecutive matches, racking up wins over Adeana Sanchez, 5-0, Brandon Bilbo, 5-4, Martin Ramos, 5-3, Ryan Garcia, 5-2, Tony Benestante, 5-4, and Dalton Riley, 5-4. On the east side, it was Bayaua over Singleton, and Jethwa over Griffin, 7-6. With numerous open division titles to their credit, Bayaua and Jethwa fought equally hard for the hot seat, with Jethwa finishing ahead, 7-6. On the one-loss side, Griffin met and defeated Wheeler, 5-1, and Bayaua eliminated Watson, 5-2. Bayaua went on to eliminate Griffin, 5-2, and Singleton, 5-1, for a Jethwa reckoning. Once again, the two faced-off, exhibiting extreme collection and focus. As the champions traded games, in the end, the result remained the same. Jethwa defeated Bayaua, 7-6, securing his second, consecutive tour victory of the 2016 season!
The Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour would like to officially welcome all the new players who attended this event. The next PLSBT event will be held June 11th-12th at Bogies Billiards located at 3040 FM 1960 E., Houston, Texas 77073. The Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour encourages everyone who loves to play pool and compete in a friendly atmosphere, to attend an event. For more information, visit www.LoneStarBilliardsTour.com. Please “Like” us on Facebook/LoneStarTour and “Follow” us at Twitter/LoneStarTour09.
In early November, the sport’s most prestigious amateur event returned to the warm coastal waters of the Tampa Bay area. For five straight days, 128 of the nation’s top male players, and 32 top female players, battled it out at Stroker’s in Palm Harbor, Fla., for a place in U.S. Amateur Championship history.
Once again, this year’s tournament included a strong mix of U.S Amateur Championship veterans, including six former champions, as well as a talented pool of newcomers. In all, more than 2,400 players attempted to qualify for the event.
The Women’s Division got the tournament action underway on November 6, and the ladies spent the next 36 hours fighting for the right to be called U.S. Amateur Champion.
The champion in the Women’s Division was Dana Aft of Atlanta, Ga., who defeated Melinda Huang of Los Angeles 9-6.
The final round, which pitted both former top 3 finishers, opened in the 8-Ball set. Aft got off to a fast start behind an 8-on-the-break and quickly built a 4-0 lead.
Huang seemed unfazed, and almost just as quickly closed the deficit to 4-3 by closing out the final two games of the 8-Ball set and opening the 9-Ball set with a win.
Aft flipped the momentum back in her favor by taking the next two games of 9-Ball. She narrowly missed pocketing the 9-on-the-snap in the next, but Huang stood her ground and pulled back within two, with the match 6-4 in favor of Aft.
The next two games would go Aft’s way.
On-the-hill, and having seemingly everything going her way, Aft worked what looked like the final rack down to a manageable shot on the 8-Ball that would have left her nearly “a gimme” shot on the 9. But Aft left the 8-ball hanging in the corner.
Huang seized the opportunity and ran with it. She made quick work of the 8 and 9-balls, and broke and ran the next rack to put the tally at 8-6 Aft.
But Aft collected herself after the missed opportunity and finally closed things out in the 15th game – final score: 9-6.
With the win, Aft was able to avenge a loss to Huang just two rounds earlier that sent her to the left-side of the bracket. The victory earned her a spot in next year’s U.S. Open. Huang finished as the Runner-up with Stephanie Mitchell of Wesley Chapel, Fla., finishing in 3rd Place.
The Men’s Division began November 8, and the guys spent the next 3 days squaring off to see who would add U.S. Amateur Champion to their resume.
As it turned out, the winner of this year’s event could already boast that title.
Brian Parks of Bakersfield, Calif., made U.S. Amateur Championship history by winning his third title with an 11-7 win over Carlos Carter of Toney, Ala., in the final round.
Parks also became the first U.S. Amateur Champion to successfully defend his title since Henry Brodt did so in 1999.
After a late-round loss the night before to Chuck Roth of Forest Hill, Md., it looked like Parks’ bid for history would come up short. But he managed to survive a marathon of matches the next day on the one-loss side of the bracket, which included a 7-0 semifinal round rematch victory over Roth to secure his spot in the final against the undefeated newcomer Carter.
The finale opened in the 9-Ball set, with both players showing a few jitters. Carter would take the first game, and after four racks, the match was tied at two games apiece. Things turned Parks way in the 5th rack when Carter failed to pocket a relatively routine shot on the 9-ball in the corner pocket. Parks would capitalize on the mistake by winning the game as well as the next four to build a 7-2 lead.
Carter would mount a small comeback, and at the end of the 9-Ball set he pulled within five games and trailed 9-4.
Things would get interesting as the match shifted to the 8-Ball set, with Carter winning the first two games and closing his deficit to just three. Parks found himself on-the-hill with a clutch win in the 16th game, before the players agreed to a quick break to regroup.
Following the short break, Carter pulled back within three games with a win.
But the seasoned U.S. Amateur Champion would prove too much, and with a win in the 18th game, Parks had further cemented his place in U.S. Amateur Championship history.
He will once again advance to the U.S. Open next year, courtesy of the APA. Roth took home 3rd Place, as well as the distinction of handing the three-time champ his only loss in the event. In 4th Place was Travis Gunn of Waco, Texas. Tying for 5th Place were David Uwate of Miami, Fla., and Johnny Griffin of Apex, N.C.
The 2013 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 Aft and Parks 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, known as the APA Pool League throughout the United States, and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada. Nearly 270,000 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 National Team Championships, the APA National Singles Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship—that, together, pay out nearly $1.5 Million in cash and prizes annually! In 2010, the APA National Team Championships were recognized by Guinness World Records as the “world’s largest pool tournament.”
The APA and its championships are sponsored by Aramith, Action Cues and Pool Dawg.
Shannon Daulton, BJ Ussery, Dave & Inky Huffman (owners of Browns Billiards), & Mike Fuller
The hot seat and finals of the Great Southern Billiard Tour (GSBT) stop on the weekend of January 14-15 was a familiar scene for Michael Fuller and B.J. Ussery. In 2011, the two met in the finals of the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour six times, with Fuller winning all six of those final matchups. On the GSBT this past weekend, they were at it again, only this time, it was Ussery who survived their hot seat and final match to go undefeated. The $1,500 event drew 42 entrants to Brown’s Billiards in Raleigh, NC.
Their first matchup in this event occurred in the battle for the hot seat. They’d sent their winners’ side final four opponents west by identical 11-5 scores; Ussery over Younger Chapman and Fuller over Brad Shearer. They then battled to double hill, before Ussery prevailed to sit in the hot seat, waiting for Fuller’s return.
Fuller’s trip back was almost derailed by Brian White, who’d been sent to the loss side by Ussery in a winners’ side final eight contest. White then went on to chalk up four straight before falling to Fuller in the semifinals. White got by Johnny Griffin 11-7 and Larry Kressel 11-9 to pick up Shearer. Chapman drew James Blackburn, who’d defeated Dave Brown, double hill, and Vernon Rogers 7-5. White moved into the quarterfinals with an 11-6 victory over Shearer, and was met by Blackburn, who’d survived a double hill struggle over Chapman.
White advanced to the semifinals with an 11-6 victory over Blackburn, but had his four-match winning streak snapped by Fuller. Fuller dropped him into third place 11-9 and turned back for yet another finals match against Ussery. In the opening set of a potential true double elimination final, Ussery prevailed 11-9 to complete his undefeated weekend on the GSBT.
Tour director Shannon Daulton extended thanks to owners Dave and Inky Huffman and the staff of Brown’s Billiards, as well as sponsors Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Mike Davis Exterminating, Tiger Products and Delta-13 racks.
Later this month, Daulton will travel to Elizabeth, IN to “do some playing of (his) own” at the Derby City Classic, scheduled for January 20-28. Next stop on the GSBT will be February 11-12 at QMaster Billiards in Virginia Beach, VA.
