On December 20th-21st, the Great Southern Billiard Tour hosted yet another amateur only event at Karl's Korner in Columbia, South Carolina. The $1500 added, $5555 total purse, event saw sixty-three players make their way to play what was dubbed The Carolina Classic Amateur 9-Ball Tournament.
Some of the top names from the region were on hand to battle it out including Scott Lewis, Greg Dix, Jason Brown, Derek Leonard, Jared McGee, and Adam Pendley. But when the day came to a close on Saturday, just sixteen players remained. On the winner's side of the chart, matches on Sunday would begin with Matt Mancini v. Adam Pendley; Jason Heyward v. Jared McGee; Scott Lewis v. Bud Coats; and Mike Patton v. Greg Dix.
Pendley (8-3), McGee (8-7), Lewis (8-4) and Dix (8-5) would move on into the next round where McGee would take down Pendley 8-4 and Lewis bested Dix 8-5, setting up the hot-seat match between the two remaining on the undefeated side. Although McGee is always a tough kid to beat, this time around, Lewis dominated the set 8-1 to guarantee a top two finish.
The one-loss side ended with John Sanders (d. Brian Bagwell 8-5); Dave Cook (d. TJ Peeples 8-7); Jason Brown (d. JR Farias 8-5); and “Easy-E” Eric Charlton (d. Larry Jackson 8-6) moving into the round that would determine 9th-12th placing (their opponents received 13th-16th place and a free entry).
The 9th-12th finishes came down to Bud Coats, Dave Cook, Matt Mancini, and Eric Charlton as they were the next to fall off the board. Behind them, John Sanders and Jason Heyward settled into 7th/8th.
When it came down to the final six, Pendley stepped up his game over Patton 8-2 and Dix took down Brown by the same score to continue their marches to the finals. But, for Dix, that would be the last win for him as Pendley got him in the next round on the hill 8-7.
Pendley continued his streak through Jared McGee in the semis 8-3 to find himself staring down Scott Lewis' cue in the final round but that obviously did not concern him in the least. The double elimination finals, race to eight, ended with Pendley controlling both sets 8-2, 8-3 for top honors at this past weekend's event. Congrats to the seventeen year old up-and-comer from Marion, North Carolina on a great win!?
In addition to the main event, Sunday the tour held a second chance tournament which pulled sixteen players. With a race to seven, winner break format, the top two out of the bunch ended up being Roger Jeffcoat and TJ Peeples. Jeffcoat took home $80 for his efforts (2nd) and Peeples snagged the first place spot and $160.
The pool room/staff and owner, Jeff Murrah, were fantastic hosts throughout the weekend and the tour thanks them for their support, along with the many sponsors and participants of the tour.
The next stop will be held after the holidays to allow everyone a little time with families and friends – this time around will be at Diamond Billiard Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee January 10-11, 2009 (The Tennessee Amateur Championship).
