Shannon Daulton, Robert Frost, Alex Olinger, & Mike Medley (owner of Michael's Billiards)
Robert Frost, echoing the renowned poet, took the road less-travelled and went undefeated to win his first ever Great Southern Billiard Tour stop on the weekend of July 17-18. The $1,500-added event, sponsored by Nick Varner Cues and Cases, drew 49 entrants above the Mason-Dixon line to Michael's Billiards in Fairfield, OH.
Frost got into the hot seat from among the winners' side final four with 9-5 win over Joe Pierce and a 9-7 win over Joe Brown. Brown had just sent Alex Olinger west by the same score.
On the one-loss side, Billy Thorpe and Mike Leek were waiting for Olinger and Pierce, respectively. Thorpe had advanced past Bill Farmer 7-2 and Jordan Grubb 7-6 to draw Olinger. Leek's path went through Chris Collins 9-4 and Eric Hinx 7-6 to meet Pierce. Olinger advanced to the quarterfinals with a 9-5 victory over Thorpe. Pierce joined him with a 7-4 win over Leek. It was Olinger advancing, defeating Pierce 9-4 in the quarterfinals and squaring off for the second time against Brown for the right to face Frost.
In the semifinals, Olinger defeated Brown by the same score that Brown had defeated him among the winners' side final four (9-7). In the true double elimination final that followed, Olinger battled Frost to double hill in the opening set, before giving way and allowing Frost to complete an undefeated first win on the Great Southern Billiard Tour.
