(l to r): Joe Zinkhan, Tim Baron, Joselito Martinez & Marcos Burgos
Martinez and Burgos down Baron and Zinkhan to claim inaugural title
Looking to create a little friendly competition among the multiplicity of pool rooms in Florida, Sunshine State Pro Am Tour directors Janene Phillips and Bobby Garza launched an inaugural event called Battle of the Billiards Big Dawg Scotch Doubles on the weekend of Oct. 27-28 at Stroker’s Billiards in Palm Harbor, FL. While 19 two-player teams participated in the $500-added, Scotch Doubles event, not all were sponsored by pool rooms. It is Phillips’ and Garza’s hope that as the event progresses in its annual schedule, more and more rooms will opt to send players to compete.
This first year’s winners (Joselito Martinez and Marcos Burgos) and runner-ups (Tim Baron and Joe Zinkhan) were independent teams. The two teams played three times, vying for the title. Baron and Zinkhan got into the hot seat, but Martinez and Burgos came back from the semifinals to defeat them in a true double elimination final.
Their first match, battling for the hot seat, followEd Martinez and Burgos’ 7-4 victory over the team of Les Duffy and Anthony Fisher, sponsored by Don Kreischer’s Boulevard Billiards. Baron and Zinkhan, meanwhile, faced off against Larry Wathal’s team from Brewlands (Dale Stanley and Mubarak Suleiman) and defeated them 7-5. Baron and Zinkhan claimed the hot seat 7-5 over Martinez and Burgos and waited on their return from the semifinals.
On the loss side, Duffy and Fisher picked up Sam Kantar and David Jacobs from Boynton Billiards, as Stanley and Mubarak drew the team of Trey Jankowski and Mitch Nelson. Both matches finished at 5-3, advancing Kantar/Jacobs and Jankowski/Nelson to the quarterfinals.
Kantar and Jacobs won the quarterfinal match by the same 5-3 score and then, in the semifinals, were defeated by that same score by Martinez and Burgos, who earned themselves a second, and as it turned out, third shot at Baron and Zinkhan in the hot seat.
Martinez and Burgos took the opening set of the true double elimination final 7-4. In a shortened race to 5 in the second set, Martinez and Burgos won again 5-3 to claim the inaugural Battle of the Billiards Big Dawg Scotch Doubles title.
Tour directors Phillips and Garza thanked Jose Del Rio and his staff at Stroker’s Billiards for hosting the event, as well as the owners of all of the venues who sponsored teams, including Stroker’s (which sponsored two teams), Capone’s, Trick Shots (Orlando, FL), Park Avenue Billiards, and the rest of the teams mentioned in the narrative above. They also thanked sponsors Cyclops Balls, Diamond, and AZBilliards.
The next regular stop on the Sunshine State Pro Am Tour, scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 17-18, will be the amateur-only, $1,000-added Sunshine State Pro Am 10-Ball Bar Box Championships, to be hosted by Rack’s Billiards in Sanford, FL.
The 4th Annual Big Tyme Classic $8,000 added, held March 24-27 in Spring, Texas, just North of Houston, paid out over $86,000!
The five- event Extravaganza started Thursday with 32 players in a single elimination One Pocket Event. Danny Smith battled it out for a victory over Joey Gray in the finals. With a full field of star studded players there were numerous upsets along the way! Smith started his run with wins over Jon Demet, Chase Rudder, Justin Hall, and Jeremy Jones to get to the finals. Gray made his way through the top of the bracket with wins over Shane Winters, Chip Compton, Jeff Chauncey, and Robb Saez.
Pay-outs:
1st Danny Smith $2,000
2nd Joey Gray $1,100
3rd /4th Robb Saez and Jeremy Jones $600 ea
5th / 8th Scott Proud, Jeff Chauncey, Arron Goodwin, and Justin Hall $300 ea
9 Ball Banks kicked off the second day, Friday, with 26 players, in a single elimination format. Tony Chohan prevailed over Chip Compton for the big win.
5th / 8th Justin Hall, Alex Calderone, J.C. Torres, and Robb Saez $250 ea
The Main Event 9 Ball Open, presented by OB Cues, commenced Friday evening. The Diamond® bar table event, streamed live by Ray “Big Truck” Hansen and his crew at PoolAction.tv, drew 128 players. Shane Winters would go undefeated to win the event and big payday, archiving wins over Josh Hughes, 7-3, Jamie Farrell, 7-4, Chase Rudder, 7-4, Jeremy Jones, 7-5, Ricky Hughes, 7-1, Evan Lunda, 7-5, and Jason Klatt, 7-4, which secured his spot in the finals. Jason Klatt had a phenomenal run with wins over Jeff Sullivan, Tim Baron,7-1, Hani Alhouri, 7-5, Blaine Barcus, 7-4, Dennis Orcollo, 7-2, and Justin Hall, 7-2, before meeting Winters for the hot seat match. With the loss, Klatt found himself on the receiving end losing to Orcollo, 7-3. In true double elimination format, Orcollo would have to beat Winters two sets. Winters narrowly escaped Orcollo in the first set, 7-6.
Pay-outs:
1st Shane Winters $4000/$24,500
2nd Dennis Orcollo $2,000/$12,000
3rd Jason Klatt $1,400/$8,900
4th Justin Hall $1,00/$6,100
5th / 6th Mike Davis Jr and Evan Lunda $700/$3,000 each
7th / 8th Josh Roberts and Danny Smith $400/$2,000 each
9th / 12th Ernesto Bayaua, James Davis Jr, Ricky Hughes, and Alex Calderone $200/$1,000 each
Sunday kicked off with the Seniors Division. Barry Strickland fought his way through an elite field of 27 players. Strickland took the hot seat with a 7-4 win against Ronnie Wiseman. The loss forced Wiseman to the “B” side to face Buddy Hall. Ronnie ousted Hall to get back to the finals against Strickland but fell short 7-2, leaving Barry the undefeated winner.
The 5th and final event of the Big Tyme Classic, was the Ladies Division, 27 awesome ladies vying for the title. Natalie Rocha secured the hot seat with a 7-6 win over Kim Pierce. Pierce would face Ricki Casper for a chance in the finals but Casper took the match 7-2. Ricki lost her first match of the day to Robyn Petrosino, 7-3, and made an impressive run to meet Rocha in the finals. Casper came up short to Rocha, 7-6, leaving Rocha undefeated for the win.
Big Tyme Billiards, Teresa Garland and Marshal Ward, Tournament Directors, would like to thank the players, spectators, fans, and staff for a successful event. A very special thanks to our sponsors, OB Cues, APA of North Harris County (Roger Schuett), Star City Amusement (Roddy Lucio), and the vendors. We look forward to next year’s Big Tyme Classic!
CSI is pleased to announce that the 2015 US Bar Table Championships 8-Ball Division matches have been released on the CSI YouTube channel. Twenty-One (21) matches featuring some of the best players in the world can be viewed in their entirety absolutely free!
The 2015 US Bar Table Championships were held February 16-22, 2015 at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, NV. The matches were recorded in “The Kamui Arena” with high definition equipment and full-time commentary by Ken Shuman and other special guests. CSI would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to our primary sponsors:
Kamui: “The Official Tip of the 22nd US Bar Table Championships!”
OB: “The Official Cue of the 22nd US Bar Table Championships!”
Strokers in Palm Harbor, FL welcomed the Poison Pool Tour on June 30-July 2, along with a whole lot of lightning and rain. The amateur event drew 34 players and the Open even drew 19. Patrick Werren posed a threat to both tournaments by winning the Amateur event and taking 2nd in the Open event. Steve Knoll, Florida’s hard courier, decided to put his bricks down for one day and pick up his cue, just to let the young guys like Werren know that he still has what it takes. He won the Open event, defeating Werren in the finals.
In the Amateur event, Werren breezed through the winners' side like it was his job. Taking a first round bye, he posted wins over Rich Johnson 7-4, Chris Gentile (2011 FL State Amateur 9 Ball Champ) 7-4, Gary Gilsinan 7-4, and Marcus Shenandoah 7-2, before meeting Mark Wathen in the hot seat match. Wathen, looking like his usual, strong-playing self, started with a first round bye and then posted wins over Jason Bowen 7-6, Kyle Bova 7-5, Jose Del Rio 7-0, and JD 7-1. The two fought a double hill, hot seat thriller, in which Wathen prevailed
The battle for the west side hot seat was waged between Brett Lykins and Jarred Schlauch. Schlauch, losing to Tim Baron in the 3rd round, took that as motivation to post wins over Bowen 6-5, Jason Richko 6-3, Justin Gilsinian 6-1, Jose Del Rio 6-3, and Rich Johnson 6-4. Lykins took a loss to Johnson in the 2nd round and then fired off wins over Zoran Vidic 6-0, Dave Stem 6-4, Kyle Bova 6-4, Chris Gentile 6-4, Tim Baron 6-4, and JD 6-2.
Schlauch bested Brett Lykins in the quarterfinals 6-4, but had his five-match, loss-side streak snapped by Werren in the semifinals. Werren then took the opening set of the finals, forcing a single rack shootout to determine the Amateur event champion. Werren completed the double dip over Wathen to claim his first Poison Pool Tour Amateur 9-Ball title.
On Sunday, Werren's fortunes were reversed as he advanced to the hot seat, only to be taken down by Steve Knoll in the single-set/single rack finals. Following wins over Jose Del Rio 7-3 and Jon Wing 7-4, Werren met Knoll among the winners' side final eight, and sent him to the loss side, 7-5. In the battle for the hot seat, Werren faced Jason Richko, who arrived having defeated Donny Mills, double hill, Kyle Bova 7-5 and Tim Baron 7-3. Werren gained the hot seat with a 7-3 win over Richko and waited for the return of and rematch against Knoll.
On the west side, Knoll would pick up Kyle Bova who'd put up wins over Tony Crosby 6-5 and Chris Gentile 6-0. Knoll prevailed 6-1 over Bova to meet Paul Mullins in the quarterfinals. Mullins, who took a third round loss to Knoll, had put up wins over Michael Lear 6-2, Jarred Schlauch 6-3 and Tim Baron 6-3 to earn the quarterfinal re-match.
Knoll took that re-match 6-2 for a shot at the waiting Richko in the semifinals. As if trying to say that he doesn't mind not carrying bricks for a day. Knoll took Richko down 6-1 for a chance to deny Werren two straight event wins on the same tour stop.
Werren and Knoll fought to double hill in the opening set of the finals, but Knoll prevailed to force the second set, single-rack shootout. Knoll took a look at an early, but irresistible 2/10 combination, won the rack and claimed his first Poison Pool Tour Open 10-Ball title.
We would like to thank Strokers' room owner, Jose Del Rio, for the great venue and even better hospitality. The staff at the room were exceptional and the food. . . well, it is always something to talk about. Strokers in Palm Harbor will be the feature room for the U.S. Amateur Championship qualifiers and championship rounds.Thank you to Poison Billiards, for whom without this would not be possible. They work hard at improving billiards through technology and style.
Our next event will be held on the weekend of July 27-28 at Hammerheads in Holiday, FL, featuring Diamond tables. To keep in tune with our events go here – http://uspoisontour.com/ – to join our mailing list and 'Like' us on Facebook to get first-hand updates on the tour.
Shannon Daulton, Billy Thorpe, & Mike Medley (owner of Michael’s Billiards)
Billy Thorpe battled for years to chalk up his first win on the Great Southern Billiard Tour, and on the weekend of July 14-15, he won his second in a little over a month. He won his first on June 3, and let one slip by him in Myrtle Beach before winning the second. He went undefeated both times. In his first GSBT win, he faced the same opponent in the hot seat and finals; Alex Olinger. This past weekend, he faced an opponent, Steve “Cupcake” Dillon, who’d won seven on the loss side to meet him in the finals. The $1000-added 9-ball event, on 9-ft. Diamond tables, and held concurrently with an 8-ball bar box tournament, drew 34 entrants to Michael’s Billiards in Fairfield, OH.
From among the winners’ side final four, Thorpe squared off against Lucas Hawkins, who’d placed second in the bar box 8-ball tournament. Adam Glover, in the meantime, met up with Tim Baron. Thorpe survived a double hill battle versus Hawkins, and in the hot seat, faced Glover, who’d defeated Baron 7-2. Thorpe got into the hot seat with a 9-4 victory over Glover, and watched Dillon’s march back to the finals.
Dillon, who’d been sent to the loss side by Corey Morphew (5/6th in the 8-ball), won four in a row to hook up with Hawkins, including a 7-5 victory over Chris Collins and a 7-4 win over Leo Kincannon, who finished both tournaments in the tie for seventh place. Baron drew Mike Burnette, who’d defeated Bill Trimble 6-2 and Dave Cross 6-4. Dillon and Hawkins battled to double hill before Dillon prevailed, advancing to the quarterfinals. He was met by Burnette, who’d survived his own double hill match against Baron.
Dillon ended Burnette’s day with a 7-2 win and then, dropped Glover into third place 7-4. Thorpe, though, spoiled Dillon’s bid for a successful, loss-side comeback with a 9-5 win in the opening set of a true double elimination final to secure the event title.
“We always appreciate the support and hospitality that is shown here at Michael’s,” said tour directors Shannon and Marge Daulton. “(Owner Michael Medley) has a very player/spectator-friendly room and we’re all thankful to him and his staff.”
The Daultons also thanked sponsors Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Mike Davis Exterminating, Tiger Products and Delta-13 racks.
Stroker’s Billiards Palm Harbor, Fl hosted the latest Poison Cues tour event. 30 players showed up for the$1000 Added Amateur one day event which was held Fathers day weekend, 6,16,2012.
Carlos Torres would prove to be the man to beat, as he made his way to the hotseat with strong wins over Lee Holland 7-4, Tim Baron 7-3, Jake Nauman 7-5, Trey Jankowski 7-3 which he followed up with a hard fought 7-4 win over Brett Lykins to take the Hotseat.
While all this was going on Jose Ybarra was running riot on the one loss side, after taking a 7-4 loss to Nathan Rose, Ybarra would go onto defeat Marty Linzy 5-2, Dave Ross 5-1, Paul Mullins 5-4, Jake Jacobson 5-2, Trey Jankowski 5-4, Lee Holland 5-1 and then another strong win over Brett Lykins 5-4 to set up a final match with Torres.
Carlos Torres looked like he was going to cruise his way to the win as he stormed out to a 6-2 lead, Ybarra had other ideas as he grinded his way back into the match rack by rack and eventually tying it up at 6-6, unfortunately for Ybarra a scratch in the last game would give Torres the chance he had been waiting for as he calmly ran the last few balls to take down his first Title on the Poison Tour.
We would like to thank Stroker’s Billiards for hosting another great event and all the players that showed up. Also our title Sponsors Poison Cues for supply some of the best hitting cues on the market.
The Poison tour will be at Cuephoria Billiards Café in Orlando July 28th-29th Orlando always draws a big crowd so this should be another great weekend of pool. If you would like to see some of the matches from this and past events visit www.poisonpooltour.com for more info you can also sign up to receive emails with the latest news.
Cunningham’s Billiards Vero Beach, Fl was the latest event to host the Poison Cues Tour event. The $1000 Added amateur event attracted 62 players with 5 ladies taking advantage of the $20 entry fee.
Miami would have a large contingent of players showing up for this event which was made a extra special with the top four places all receiving a beautiful glass trophy’s supplied by Javier Chirino.
Chirino was also looking like the man to beat as he would make his way through to the hotseat with strong wins over Doug Johnson 6-2, Justin Gilsinan 6-4, Prescott Buckwold 6-3, Paul Mullins 6-0, Jeff Mabry 6-4 and then hard fought win over Raymond Linares in the winner’s side final 7-3.
The one loss side would see Tim Baron make a strong push after taking a 6-2 loss to Chris Gentile, Baron would go on to take out Jay Zink 5-4, Derek Virgilio 5-1, Paul Mullins 5-2, a 5-4 win over David Uwate would be his last as Jason Sheerman would end his run with a 5-3 loss to leave Baron in a Respectable 5th place. Sheerman would now have the task of taking on the Florida Amateur State Champion Chris Gentile this would also end his run as Gentile would come out on top with a 5-2 win leaving Sheerman in 4th spot, Gentile backed this win up with strong 5-0 win over Raymond Linares to put himself in the final.
The finals would be another great match with both players showing why they got there with strong shot making and good safety battles, However Chirino did not want to give his trophy up and would eventually come out a 7-4 winner and take the 1st place trophy and $700 1st place prize fund.
The Poison Tour also paid out more than quarter of the field for this event along with four glass trophy’s for the top four finishers. Congratulations to Kira Brown for her top lady finish receiving $50
Sunday’s $1000 Added open 10-Ball event would attract 42 players with over 30 amateurs coming back from Saturday’s event taking advantage of the two day $40 discounted entry fee.
Hunter Lombardo would be the man to beat on the day as he cruised his way to the finals with strong wins over Tim Baron 6-4, John Ditoro 6-1, Kira Brown 6-4, Mark Coats 6-0 and then a strong 7-3 win over Tony Crosby in the winners side final to capture the hotseat,.
On the one loss side Raymond Linares was proving to be a handful after taking a first round loss to David Uwate 6-2 he would go on a strong run with wins over Lincoln Seifert, Robert Raiford, Prescott Buckwold, Chettan Chhabra, John Ditoro and then Mark Coats before running into a determined Anthony Meglino who stopped his run with a 5-0 win Meglino would then go on to lose a tight 5-4 match to Tony Crosby which would set up a Lombardo Crosby Final.
The final would be a classic with neither player wanting to give an inch it would go all the way with Crosby taking it 7-6 to set up a 1 rack sudden death shootout. The shootout is designed to give the hotseat winner that 2nd chance and also guarantees 2nd place will have lost twice.
Crosby would go onto win the one rack shoot out after a positional error from Lombardo leaving Crosby a quick 2-10 combination to take down the event.
The tour would like to thank Cunningham’s pool room and its staff for hosting a very successful event.
Also our Title Sponsors Poison Cues for supplying some of the best hitting pool cues on the market.
Our next event will be 19-20th May at Park Avenue Billiards, Orange Park (Jacksonville).