Hammer goes undefeated to win the 1st Annual Michael Slaughter Memorial
It was the first time either one of them had matched up in Great Southern Billiard Tour final.
On the weekend of August 1-2, Will Hammer and Jonathan Ailsock battled twice to see which of them would take home his first GSBT title. With a difference of $200 between first and second place, you'd have to think money rode in the back seat, while the lure of a first tournament title did the driving.
Hammer took the title, though not before Ailsock brought him right to the brink of a potential second set in the finals. The $750-added event, which drew 34 entrants, was the 1st annual Michael Slaughter Memorial, hosted by Shore Thing Billiards in Myrtle Beach, SC and held in memory of Danville, VA's Michael Slaughter, who'd made Myrtle Beach his home for the last several years. Slaughter passed away on Tuesday, January 28.
Hammer and Ailsock met first in a winners' side semifinal, while Clayton Peterson and Dave Matthews faced off in the other one. Hammer took the first of his two against Ailsock 4-2, while Peterson sent Matthews to the loss side 3-2. Hammer claimed the hot seat 4-2 and waited for Ailsock to finish the three matches he had to win for a second chance.
Ailstock's first opponent on the loss side was Dan Woods, who'd defeated Beau Miller 3-2, and Howard Summer, double hill. Matthews picked up Michael Hayden, who'd defeated Beau Miller's father, Wayne, 5-2, and survived a double hill fight against Gatlin Askins.
Ailstock would win his next three games by an aggregate score of 12-2. He shut Dan Woods out, while Hayden was busy eliminating Matthews 5-2. He gave up a single rack each to Michael Hayden in the quarterfinals, and Clayton Peterson in the semifinals.
To no one's surprise, it came down to a case game in a straight-up race to four. Hammer dropped the 9-ball and took home the 1st Annual Michael Slaughter Memorial title.
The next stop on the GSBT, scheduled for August 22-23, is a $1000-added event, hosted by a new room, the Metro Sports Bar, in Atlanta, GA.