The Colorado Cue Club and Players Choice Leagues were happy to welcome 36 players for the 2nd “PCL Fall Kickoff” event: the $500 Added Fall Kickoff 9-Ball Open. Mike “Hammer” Hellmer, owner of Match Up's in Fort Collins, made his presence known by rolling through the winner's bracket to take on Chris McDaniel. The hot seat match seemed to be all Hellmer at 6-3 in the race to 7, but McDaniel made it interesting by forcing a hill-hill game. Hammer would close the deal, however, and wait for an opponent in the finals. The battle for third was waged by a couple Big Box Summer Series champions in Bill Skinner (One Pocket) and Jeff Crawford (8-Ball). This match was all Skinner and he earned a rematch with McDaniel who had defeated him earlier getting a majority of the good fortune. The rolls seemed to be on Chris' side once again as he cruised to a 7-3 win and a birth in the finals. But it wouldn't last against the “Bulldog” Mike “the Hurricane/Hammer” Hellmer who snapped three 9-Ball breaks (all in different pockets) to win hill-hill again! Congrats to the Hammer.
The Fall Kickoff main event, $1000 Added Barbox 8-Ball, is September 13 at the Cue Club. There will also be a second chance $200 added 8-Ball. These tourneys are for league promotion purposes but they remain open to all players! Thanks to Bob Winter of Players Choice Leagues for running a smooth tourney.
