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Solvetti takes two out of three against Kellogg to win Western New York Tour stop

Travis Solvetti got into the hot seat, and then gave up the first match of a double elimination final to Lance Kellogg, before rallying to take the second set and claim the Western New York Tour stop title on Saturday, March 22. The event, hosted by Premium Billiards in Syracuse, NY, drew 16 entrants.
 
Solvetti defeated Angelo Innis in a winners' side final four battle, as Kellogg was engaged in a 6-4 win over Jared Zimmer. Solvetti took the first of three against Kellogg 7-5 and waited in the hot seat for his return.
 
Innis moved over to pick up Don Purdy, who'd defeated tour director Nick Brucato 8-3 and Jeff Montgomery 7-5 to reach him. Zimmer drew Brett Fenstermaker, who'd gotten by Ibo Eng 6-3 and Dano Veinot 6-4.  Innis got right back to work on the loss side with a 7-3 win over Purdy, as Fenstermaker was busy eliminating Zimmer 6-3.
 
Innis and Fenstermaker locked up in a double hill, quarterfinal fight, eventually won by Innis, who was then defeated by Kellogg 7-4 in the semifinals. Kellogg and Silvetti fought back and forth to double hill in the opening set of the finals, with Kellogg prevailing to force a second set. They came within a game of a second double hill set, but Silvetti edged out in front to win it 7-5 and claim the event title.

Manzi and Solve split top prizes on Western New York Tour

In a newly-renovated Premium Billiards in Syracuse, NY, Rick Manzi and Travis Solve (pronounced sol-vay) opted out of a second set in a true double elimination final and with one loss apiece on the day, chose to split the top two (and only) prizes. The $150-added event, held on Sunday, January 8, drew 10 entrants.

They met first in the battle for the hot seat, after Manzi had downed Thomas Bergen 5-4 and Solve had sent Dave Landon west 5-3. In the first of their two matches, Solve gained the hot seat with a 5-3 victory.

Over on the limited loss side, Roger Jackson and Kyle Racka were eliminated, leaving tour director Nick Brucato to face Mike Renshaw, and Jerry Sullivan squaring off against Dave Brobeck. Sullivan won a forfeit victory over Brobeck to pick up Landon, while Renshaw defeated Brucato 6-5 to draw Bergen. 

It was Bergen and Landon advancing to the quarterfinals; Bergen with a 6-5 win over Renshaw, Landon with a 5-2 victory over Sullivan. Bergen then survived a double hill quarterfinal battle against Landon and then, was himself defeated in a double hill semifinal by Manzi.

Manzi evened his match score versus Solve with a 5-2 win in the opening set of what was to have been a true double elimination final. At that point, the two opted to forego a second set, leave their match score tied at 1-1 and split the top two prizes. Manzi earned a free entry to the tour’s next stop, scheduled for January 15 at Six Pockets in Rochester, NY.

Duly impressed with the venue’s recent renovations, and looking forward to scheduling further stops on the tour there, tour director Nick Brucato thanked  Premium Billiards owner Frank Wollack for his hospitality.