Brooke Meyer has been climbing the Predator Tour ladder, steadily. Last year, he finished in the money six times; once in 13th place, once in 7th, twice in 5th and twice as runner-up. On the weekend of April 11-12, he broke through to record his first victory on the tour, punctuating it by going undefeated. The $500-added Amateur event drew 68 entrants to Steinway Billiards in Astoria (Queens), NY. A concurrently-run Open/Pro event (see separate story), won by Earl Strickland drew 19.
A trio of 7-4 wins left Meyer in the hot seat. Wilfredo Albay sent Jose Kuilan to the loss side, as Meyer was busy doing the same to Billy Santiago. In the last of the three 7-4 wins, Meyer sent Albay to the semifinals, from which, as it turned out, Kuilan would return.
On the loss side, Kuilan drew Ms. Akio Taniyama, who'd squeaked by Eric Carrasco, double hill and defeated Luis Jimenez by the recurring score of 7-4. Santiago picked up Kapriel Delimelkonoglu, who'd gotten by Dave Shlemperis 7-3 and James Stevens 7-1.
Two more 7-4 scores sent Kuilan (over Taniyama) and Delimelkonoglu (over Santiago) to the quarterfinals, where Kuilan survived a double hill fight for his second shot against Albay. Though Albay would battle to within a game of double hill in the semifinals, Kuilan took it 7-5 and got a shot at Meyer in the hot seat.
To no avail, as it turned out. Kuilan brought Meyer to within a single game of double hill, before Meyer pulled out in front to win it 9-7, claiming his first Predator title.
