Third time’s a charm for Fuller on the GSBT

Mike Fuller had been in the GSBT finals twice before; once in March of '09 and then, over a year later in Sept. '10. He'd sandwiched in a victory on the Jacoby Custom Cue Carolina Tour in Raleigh last March, and finished in the money in a few other spots, but as of the weekend of January 15-16, 2011, he had yet to win a stop on the Great Southern Billiard Tour.  He ended that drought by coming from the one-loss side to meet and defeat Danny Mastermaker twice in a true double elimination final. The $1,500-added event, sponsored by Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Delta 13 racks, Tiger Products, and Mike Davis Exterminating, was hosted by Fast Eddie's in Goldsboro, NC, and drew 40 entrants.

Fuller was among the winners' side final four when he met Mastermaker for the first time. Mastermaker's 9-3 victory in that first meeting put him into the hot seat match versus Mike Staubes, who had just been awarded a forfeit victory, when his opponent, Chris Vollmar, failed to arrive on time for the scheduled match. Mastermaker moved into the hot seat with a 9-5 win over Staubes that proved to be his final victory of the weekend.

Fuller moved over to take on Sam Monday, who'd been the finals victor in the September '10 matchup. Monday had gotten by Mike Basha 11-7, and David King 11-4 to face Fuller. Vollmar, in the meantime, did show up to face Mack Herrell on time. Herrell had defeated Rodney Strickland, double hill, and Larry Faulk 9-3. Fuller and Monday locked up in almost predictable double hill battle that finally advanced Fuller to the quarterfinals. Herrell joined him after a 9-7 victory over Vollmar.

Fuller then dominated the quarterfinals, defeating Heller 11-2. Staubes put up a better fight, battling Fuller to double hill in the semifinals, but Fuller advanced for his third crack at a GSBT win. Fuller took the opening set 11-5, and the second set 11-2 to put his first GSBT victory in the books.