Baker's Billiards in Tampa Florida was the scene of the 2nd event of the Junior Billiards Tour. Coupled with a BCA Junior National Qualifier, over 15 juniors came from around the country to compete for the qualifying position in this marathon of pool . Nine of those players are Junior Billiards Tour members who are among the top-ranked junior players in the country. Players started at 9:00 am and finished the four events at 8:00 pm. that evening making for a grueling day of billiards play.
Tour member, Denny Singletary, 17, from Marianna Florida battled the talented field to capture the top position in the Juniors Ring Game winning the $200 Nick Varner Cue and the 2nd position in the upcoming Six - person Ring Game Championships. The Junior Billiards Tour Diamond Ring Game Championship will be held at The Orlando Open at Disney World's Coronado Springs in August. See www.OrlandoOpen.com and www.JuniorBilliardsTour.com Singletary also received 100 points for the win launching him into a 3rd Place tie with Matthew Menes, 12, of Tampa, FL in the points race for the "Trip To Disney". Singletary will compete with the first event winner, Nick "The Stick" Tafoya, from Albuquerque, NM, at the Orlando Open, for the Championship Trophy and over $1,200 in prizes. Three more qualifiers from the remaining three events and one from a points leader's playoff will also compete in the top level players event.
Wayne Hutter, 17, from Mims, Florida, again dominated the field in the 9 Ball Top Gun Shootout, defeating Tampa superstar, Mitchell Menes, in an exciting Hill-Hill match. Hutter received a $100 Nick Varner cue and 50 additional tour points. Mitchell Menes had just come off a Hill-Hill win over Ring Game winner, Denny Singletary, in the loser's bracket to advance to the Finals. Hutter had defeated Menes earlier in the tournament sending him to the loser's bracket. The win for Hutter, coupled with his 3rd Place finish in the Ring Game and previous points, launched him into 1st Place in the Points Standings for the "Trip To Disney"
10 Ball Ring Game Results
Denny Singletary 1st Place 100 Points
Mike Mallen 2nd Place 75 Points
Wayne Hutter 3rd Place 60 Points
Mitchell Menes 4th Place 45 Points
Justin Gilsinan 5th Place 35 Points
Trey Jankowski 6th Place 30 Points
9 Ball Top Gun Shootout
Wayne Hutter 1st Place 50 Points
Mitchell Menes 2nd Place 25 Points
Denny Singletary 3rd Place 15 Points
2nd Chance 9 Ball
Matthew Menes 1st Place 25 Points
Roger Aleong 2nd Place 15 Points
Amber Jankowski 3rd Place
Current Points Standings
Wayne Hutter 220 Points
Nick "The Stick" Tafoya 125 Points
Denny Singletary 115 Points
Matthew Menes 115 Points
Mitchell Menes 110 Points
Mike Mallen 75 Points
Justin Gilsinan 85 Points
Trey Jankowski 75 Points
Roger Aleong Jr. 55 Points
Amber Jankowski 55 Points
Marcus Dunlap 35 Points
Charles "Payton" Crosby 25 Points
Flavio Farias 25 Points
The adult parents of the tour members and players competed in their own fundraising event by playing in an adult-only 6 person Diamond Ring Game with a $25 entry fee. The entire proceeds of the game, $150, was donated to the travel fund to send the qualifying juniors to the BCA Junior Nationals in Michigan this June. Bill Mallen, father of Junior Tour Member, Mike Mallen, won the 1st place honors in an "All-In" game with Gary Gilsinan, father of Junior Tour Member, Justin Gilsinan, in the 3 hour contest. It was exciting fun for all the parents, playing and watching, as they waited for their kids competing in the tournament.
Wayne Hutter and Mike Mallen, won the Qualifying spots in the Junior Qualifier to go to the BCA Junior Nationals in June.
Tour member, Amber Jankowski, 13, from North Port, Florida, won the spot for the BCA Junior Nationals in the Open Girls Division.
The next event of the Junior Billiards Tour will be at The Orlando Billiards Center, formerly Pro Billiards, in Orlando Florida on April 30th, 2005. The event may also include a BCA Junior National Qualifier. See the website at www.JuniorBilliardsTour.com for details and directions.
