The annual Tiger Tour US Open Warm-up event took place September 23/24th at Great Slates in Cambridge, MD. Once again, several top pros such as Shawn Putnam, Earl Strickland, Allen Hopkins and Mike Davis were in attendance looking to get tuned up for the US Open 9 Ball Championships. Many top Tiger Tour regulars were also looking to get into stroke on their way to Chesapeake, VA for the festivities. This was a $4000 added event made possible by Great Slates room owner John Moody Sr. and the Tiger Tour sponsors.
This was a tough field with 23 of the 55 entrants on their way to the US Open. The first casualty of the day was Shawn Putnam falling to Shin Young Park. Park's success was short-lived as tour regular and rising star Brandon Shuff took him down 9-3. Another tour regular, Larry Kressel, played a strong match defeating Allen Hopkins 9-3. Shuff followed up his win over Park with a 9-6 win over Chris Bartram. When Mike Davis, who is also a Tiger Tour regular, overcame Earl Strickland 9-8, the final 4 winner side was set. Despite the many visiting talented players, this turned out to be an all Tiger Tour regulars final four. Shuff faced tour points' leader Josh Brothers while Davis matched up with Shaun Wilkie.
Shuff won an exciting 9-8 match with Brothers to advance. Wilkie and Davis both played in last week's Carolina Open with Wilkie winning the 9 ball division and Davis taking the One Pocket event. Wilkie came out on top of this match 9-5. The hot seat match saw Shuff continue his winning ways 9-6 over Wilkie.
In the elimination bracket, Lee Holt recovered from an early loss to Chris Szuter to win several matches including Adam "GQ" Smith, Bartram and Putnam. Mike Davis put an end to that run. Davis went on to defeat Kressel placing him into the 4th spot. Wilkie seemed determined after his loss to Shuff and defeated Davis for a second time 7-3. This set up a rematch with Shuff in the single set final race to 11. Wilkie jumped out to an 8-2 lead and never looked back winning convincingly 11-2. Wilkie pocketed $2400 with Shuff taking home $1500 for 2nd.
