 Garland Manley (G Mans owner), Jesse Middlebrook, Stevie Moore, Shannon Daulton |
The first stop of the Great Southern Billiard Tour 2008 season got underway with thirty-three players in a new setting this weekend (February 9-10, 2008). G Mans Family Entertainment in Lanett, Alabama, started the tour's season off right with a $1500 added event as did eventual winner, Jessie Middlebrooks.
After his third place finish at the GSBT finale in late January, Middlebrooks apparently came out kicking like a mule this weekend. On Sunday mid-day, Stevie Moore and Middlebrooks crossed paths on the winners side of the brackets, along with Paul Turner and Ronnie Yarborough. Middlebrooks and Turner bested their opponents in tight races with an outcome of 9-7 each. Moving on into the hot-seat match, Middlebrooks squeaked by Turner 9-8 to wait out the rest of the field.
Starting off the day on the one-loss side, Stoney Stone came out on top of Dave Crockett 9-1; while Shannon Daulton ended Kim Bennett's day 9-6. Daulton's win threw him into Stevie Moore and in the end, out of the tournament 9-2. Stone moved past Ronnie Yarbrough 9-6, and had a chance to avenge his earlier round loss to Moore in the next round but fell short at 9-7. Moore continued his run through semi-finalist Paul Turner 9-7 and set himself up for another re-match but this time it was in the final round with Middlebrooks. Middlebrooks took the reigns and rode out the end of the set with a mere one game difference from what the two previously had on the winners side of the bracket (9-7) to take the first win of the season.
Congratulations to Jessie Middlebrooks for a great showing, and to the two highest women finishers – Kristen Malone and Patricia Buchanan. Malone and Buchanan were forced to perform a playoff match race to nine in order the determine the winner of the $50 prize – Malone was able to take the lead and never looked back finishing off Buchanan 9-3.
The tour would like to thank G Mans for hosting the first tour stop of the season – the food was fabulous and the room was nice and spacious; and much appreciation goes out to the tour's ongoing sponsors Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Jimmy Reeves Custom Cues and Repairs, and Break N Run Sportswear.
The second event of the season will be held February 16th-17th at Breakers in Rock Hill, South Carolina with a $1500 added nine-ball event, along with a $500 added second chance tournament (Sunday only).
