Bernardo Estevan had to get by Denny Singletary twice, once among the winners' side final eight and again in the finals, to complete an undefeated February 23-24 weekend on the Simonis Cloth Classic Tour. The $1,500-added event drew 50 entrants to The Rail, in Athens, GA, which, over the last 15 years, has been hosting the Viking Tour, and now, the Simonis Cloth Classic Tour, under the tour directorship of Mike Janis.
Once Estevan had dispatched Singletary to the loss side 9-5, he advanced to a winners' side semifinal against Justin Kaleb (formerly Israel Hightower). In the other semifinal, Jeramie Hill faced Jeremy Hart. Estevan downed Kaleb 9-7, and in the hot seat match faced Hart, who'd sent Hill west 9-3. Esteban got into the hot seat with a 9-6 win over Hart and waited on Singletary.
On the loss side, Singletary got by Stoney Stone 9-6 and Bruce Berrong to draw Hill. Kaleb picked up Matt Bulfin, who'd defeated Joe Kirkland 9-1 and John Maikke 9-3 to reach him. Singletary gave up only a single rack against Hill and moved into the quarterfinals against Kaleb, who'd eliminated Bulfin 9-7. Singletary completed his five-match, loss-side winning streak with a 9-6 victory over Kaleb in the quarterfinals and a 9-7 win over Hart in the semifinals.
Estevan won the finals coin toss and opted to play 8-ball first (the Simonic Cloth Classic Tour is conducted using a format that dictates both 8-ball and 9-ball play in the course of a match). Playing 8-ball, Estevan took a commanding 6-1 lead. Singletary cut into that lead, as the game switched to 9-ball, winning four of the final seven games, but Estevan prevailed to claim the event title.
Tour director Mike Janis thanked owner Joe Kirkland and his staff at The Rail, for his 15 years of on-going support, as well as sponsors Simonis Cloth, Steve Lomax Cues, Kamui Tips, Silver Cup Chalk, Olhausen Billiards, Tim "The Monk" Miller, Burt Joseph Cue Gloves, and Pool & Billiard Magazine.
