Shannon Daulton, Mike Basha, Sam Monday, & Mike Frowein
Mike Basha, sitting in the hot seat, had to defeat a surging Sam Monday in a second set to take first place in the Great Southern Billiard Tour stop on the weekend of February 27-28. The $1,500-added event drew 51 entrants to Fast Eddie's in Goldsboro, NC.
Basha and Monday were among the winner's side final four facing different opponents. Basha sent Justin Ward west 7-4 as Tony Williams was busy sending Monday over 7-8 (Monday had to get to 11).
Basha gained the hot seat with a commanding 7-2 win over Williams and waited for Monday to return.
On the one-loss side, Rick Royster, a victim of Williams among the winners' side final eight, defeated Bobby Hicks 7-6 and Tony Morrison 7-7 to draw Ward. Sparky Ferrell, in the meantime, after wins over Pokey 11-1 and Larry Faulk in an 11-8, double hill battle, faced Monday. Royster got by Ward with a double hill win, as Monday was dropping Ferrell into the tie for fifth place 11-8. Royster's bid for a rematch against Williams was spoiled when Monday defeated him 11-3 in the quarterfinals.
Monday advanced to the finals with a second straight decisive win over Williams 11-2 in the semifinals and with momentum on his side, opened the true double elimination finals with a hill-hill win over Basha. The second set was as much of a thriller as the first, with the two battling back and forth to double hill again before Basha prevailed to capture the first place prize.
