 Michael Fuller |
Michael Fuller made a triumphant return to the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour by taking first place at M & M Billiards in Hillsborough, NC, March 3rd. This comes as no surprise to those who follow the tour and know that last year Fuller won an amazing ten times in his twelve appearances. That was more than enough to earn Fuller Player of the Year and free entry into the 2006 U. S. Open 9-ball Championships.
Fuller began the day with an easy victory over Joseph Hackett (7-0) but was abruptly sent to the one-loss side by B. J. Ussery (7-0). They would meet again in the final, however, after Fuller defeated Mike Champagne (7-3), Dale Lloyd (7-1), Peaches Fuller (7-6) and room owner Mike Rose (7-1).
On the undefeated side, meanwhile, Ussery made his way to the hotseat by defeating Rachal Eliazar (7-1), Greg Sabins (7-3), and Rose (7-4), in addition to Fuller (7-0).
The final match between Fuller and Ussery started out fairly uneventful. Tied 3-3 in the seventh rack, however, the match took a turn in favor of Fuller.
Ussery had just played safe on the one-ball, requiring Fuller to break out the jump cue. After studying the shot for a few moments Fuller successfully caromed the one off the four and into the nine. The nine-ball hung in the jaws of the corner pocket for dramatic effect and then fell. Ussery did not win another game.
Although absent for the first seven stops of this year's tour, don't count him out of the running for this year's Player of the Year award. With seven tournaments remaining on the Jacoby Tour, he just might do it again.
The next stop on the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour will be March 24th at Play 2 Win Billiards in Raleigh, NC.
