Shannon Daulton, Jeff Abernathy, Paul Durgin and Brent Hudgins
The last time Jeff Abernathy won a stop on the Great Southern Billiard Tour was in June of 2007, when he defeated Earl Strickland in the finals. He also won stops on the Southeast Open 9-Ball and Viking Cue Tours that year. On the weekend of January 5-6, Abernathy came back from a short visit to the loss side to double dip Paul Durgin and claim a more recent event title on the GSBT. The $1,000-added amateur event drew 45 entrants to Shore Thing Billiards in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Advancing to the winners' side final four, Abernathy met up with Jason Martin, as Durgin squared off against Greg Dix. Abernathy (an A player) got into the hot seat match with a 9-5 win over Martin (C), as Durgin (B) downed Dix (A) 7-3. With two on the wire, Durgin got into the hot seat 7-7, and waited on Abernathy's fateful return.
Martin moved over and picked up Wendell Thompkins, who'd defeated Josh Newman 9-6 and Dean Trammel 9-4 to reach him. Dix drew Todd Kiser, who'd defeated Belinda Calhoun 7-5 and Shane Schronce 7-1. Dix got right back to work, defeating Kiser 9-1, but Thompkins handed Martin his second straight loss 9-4, and advanced to the quarterfinals against Dix.
In a straight-up race to 9, Dix and Thompkins battled to double hill before Dix prevailed for a shot against Abernathy. Abernathy then ended Dix's bid 9-7 and got a second chance against Durgin. Abernathy took the opening set 9-3, and though Durgin would battle him to double hill in the second set, Abernathy hung on to win it and claim the event title.
Tour directors Shannon and Marge Daulton thanked the ownership and staff at Shore Thing Billiards for their continuing hospitality and support of the GSBT, as well as sponsors Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Tiger Products, Delta-13 Racks, and Steve Lomax Cues. Next stop on the GSBT is scheduled for January 19-20 at Lucky Shot Billiards in Albemarle, NC.
