Gatlin Askins punctuated an undefeated run through a field of 23, on-hand for the March 12 stop on the Q City 9-Ball Tour, with a shutout in the finals over an opponent, Ron Frank, who'd won seven on the loss side to challenge him. The event was hosted by Grady's in Lexington, SC.
Askins advanced to the hot seat match with an 8-3 victory over Jerry Ray in a winners' side semifinal, as Brandon Stiltner was sending Jerry Shelley to the loss side 6-4. Askins claimed the hot seat 8-5 over Stiltner and waited on Ron Frank.
On the loss side, a pair of father/son duos were working their way through the field. Ron Frank was on a seven-match run that would propel him into the finals against Askins, and looking to square off against the opponent who'd defeated him in the second round of play; his son, Trey Frank. The father didn't get the chance, because while he was working on his third loss-side win, son Trey was picking up his second loss. Frank got by Mitch Holmes 9-1, and James Turner 9-4 to draw Shelley. Jerry Ray, in the meantime, moved from his winners' side semifinal loss and drew his 15-year-old son, Dakota Harris, who'd been responsible for knocking Ron Frank's son, Trey, out of the tournament 5-4 and then defeated Matt Collins 5-3, to draw his Dad.
This time, son defeated father; Harris, 5-3 over Jerry Ray. The elder Frank defeated Shelley 9-4 and moved into a quarterfinal against Harris. Frank downed Harris in the quarterfinals and Stiltner in the semifinals by the same 9-2 score and got a shot at Askins in the hot seat. Askins left little doubt regarding his desire to claim the event title, shutting out Frank in the finals to do so.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked the ownership and staff at Grady's for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Viking Cues, Delta-13 Racks, Goplaypool.com, and Heidrich Custom Cues.
