Over the past five years, according to our records, Paul Spaanstra has chalked up five runner-up finishes on the Tri-State Tour, though until this past weekend (Sunday, Nov. 20), he had yet to chalk up an event victory. He broke that 'bridesmaid' streak with a come-from-the-loss side win at a $1,000-added Tri-State event that drew 23 entrants to Rockaway Billiards in Rockaway, NJ.

 

 

Following victories over Paul Murphy and Fred Garcia, Spaanstra faced William Donofrio in one of the winners' side semifinals, while Mike Guevera squared off against Erick Carrasco in the other one. Spaanstra sent Donofrio west 7-4, and in the hot seat match faced Guevera, who'd sent Carrasco over, double hill. It was Guevera sending Spaanstra to the semifinals, double hill, and waiting in the hot seat for what would prove to be something of a nail-biter against him in the finals. 

 

 

On the loss side, Donofrio picked up Carl Yusuf Khan (known as The Warrior), who'd defeated Gary Fuller 7-5 and Garcia 7-2 to reach him. Carrasco drew Allison LaFleur, who'd won two straight double hill matches against Jim Gutierrez and Suzie Wong to face him.

 

 

Khan made short work of Donofrio 7-1, and in the quarterfinals, faced Carrasco, who'd eliminated LaFleur 8-5. In the event's first money round, Khan downed Carrasco 7-5. 

 

 

Spaanstra, looking for the sixth time in five years, to make it to the finals, downed Khan in the semifinals 7-2. The final match between Spaanstra and Guevera, racing to 10, was tied six times. Guevera broke out to an early 3-0 lead, but Spaanstra came right back to tie it for the first time. They tied it again at 4-4, and 6-6, and then traded games back and forth to the ultimate tie at double hill 9-9. Shooting at the 5-ball in the deciding game, Spaanstra used it to sink the 9-ball and win his first (as far as we can determine) Tri-State title.

 

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Rockaway Billiards, as well as sponsors Ozone Billiards, Sterling-Gaming, Kamui Tips, Ron Vitello, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, Human Kinetics, and Bloodworth Ball Cleaners. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for Sunday, November 27, will be hosted by Clifton Billiards in Clifton, NJ.

Bob Toomey in the hot seat, and Steve Kaminow, coming at him from the loss side, opted out of a final match during a Sunday, April 24 stop on the Tri-State Tour. They chose to split the top two prizes of the $1,000-added event that had drawn 16 entrants to Rockaway Billiards in Rockaway, NJ.

 

Toomey and Adam Kosmin squared off in the hot seat battle. Toomey had sent Tony Ignomirello to the loss side 6-1 in one of the winners' side semifinals, as Kosmin downed Jerry Ritzer, double hill, in the other. Toomey sent Kosmin to the semifinals with a double hill win that proved to be his last match.

 

On the loss side, Steve Kaminow was working his way to the finals. He defeated Paul Madonia 7-5, and William Donofrio 7-2 to pick up Ritzer. Ignomirello drew Mark Mondello, who'd eliminatEd Martin Carducci 6-1, and Mickey Hadjipetros 6-3 to reach him.

 

Kaminow defeated Ritzer 7-3, advancing to the quarterfinals against Mondello, who'd defeated Ignomirello 6-2. Kaminow followed up with a 7-4 win over Mondello and moved into his final match; the semifinals versus Kosmin. He thwarted Kosmin's desire for a rematch against Toomey with a 7-5 win, which ended the night. Toomey and Kaminow opted out of the final, leaving the undefeated Toomey as the event's official winner.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Rockaway Billiards, as well as sponsors John Bender of Bender Cues, Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Qpod Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics. The next stop on the Tri-State Tour, scheduled for Sunday, May 1, will be hosted by BQE Bar & Billiards in Jackson Heights, NY.

Mike Figueroa and John Shatell let their only meeting stand as the result of the March 13 stop on the Tri-State Tour. Figueroa won their hot seat match, and together, they opted out of playing a final, splitting the top two prizes. The $1,000-added event drew 26 entrants to Rockaway Billiards in Rockaway, NJ.

 

Prior to their hot seat match, Figueroa had sent Sal Rinchiuso to the loss side 6-2. Shatell had done likewise to Jerry Ritzer 7-6. Figueroa claimed the hot seat with what proved to be his final victory 8-7.

 

On the loss side, Rinchiuso picked up Bob Toomey, who'd shut out Rick Nowicki and defeatEd Martin Carducci 6-2 to reach him. Ritzer drew William Donofrio, who'd eliminated Steve Kaminow 7-5 and survived a double hill match against Fred Garcia.

 

Ritzer advanced to the quarterfinals 7-4 over Donofrio, and was joined by Rinchiuso, who'd defeated Toomey, double hill. Ritzer earned himself a re-match against Shatell with an 8-4 win in those quarterfinals.

 

Shatell and Ritzer repeated the scores and result of their winners' side semifinal match, with Shatell advancing to the finals for his second shot against Figueroa. They opted out of that final match, awarding Figueroa the official event victory.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at Rockaway Billiards, as well as sponsors John Bender Cues, Sterling-Gaming, Ozone Billiards, Qpod Cues, Kamui Tips, Phil Capelle, BlueBook Publishing, and Human Kinetics