Jeff Furness got sent to the one-loss side by Brandon Cole from among the winners' side final four, but came back to defeat him twice in a true double elimination final on the Lucasi Hybrid New England 9-Ball Series stop on Sunday, February 13. The $100-added event drew 26 entrants to Schemengee's Billiards in Lewiston, ME.
After defeating Furness 5-2, Cole moved into the hot seat match, where he was met by Mark Small. Small had just sent Corey Tapley over 4-4. Cole and Small battled to double hill, before Cole prevailed and waited for what turned out to be the return of Furness.
Furness' first challenge on the one-loss side was Mike Barbagallo, who'd defeated Nick Dupond 4-4, and Randy Marcott 5-2 to reach him. Tapley picked up Ryan Parker, who'd gotten by Robert Royer 6-1 and Scott Herbert 6-2.
Over the next five matches, including the double elimination final, Furness would give up only six racks. He gave up the first of these in a 4-1 victory over Barbagallo that put him into the quarterfinals. He was joined by Tapley, who'd downed Parker 5-2. Furness gave up the second rack in those quarterfinals, in another 4-1 victory that set him up against Small in the semifinals. A third straight 4-1 victory gave Furness the rematch option he'd been after since Cole had sent him west from among the winners' side final four.
To his credit, Cole was the only player since their original match to chalk up more than a single rack against Furness. It was not nearly enough, though, as Furness took the opening set 4-2, and followed it with a fourth 4-1 victory that earned him the stop's top slot.
