Jeff Jordan had to face Mike Templeton three times and beat him twice to put him away and take first place on the Great Southern Billiard Tour stop on the weekend of April 10-11. The $1,500-added amateur event drew 57 entrants to Classic Billiards in Conyers, GA.
From among the winners' side final four, Jordan sent Jesse Middlebrook west 7-6 (Middlebrook had to reach 10 games) to face Templeton for the first time in the hot seat match. Templeton had sent Josh Newman west 7-7 (Newman needing to reach 10). Jordan gained the hot seat with his first of two wins over Templeton 7-4.
On the one-loss side, Newman met Brian White, who'd advanced past Aaron Frady 10-7 and Floyd Reasons 10-5 to meet him. Middlebrook took on Randy Jordan (brother to Jeff), who'd defeated Claude Marrier 9-6 and Mike Basha 9-5. Newman's visit to the one-loss side proved to be brief and decisive as he fell to White 10-2. Middlebrook's one-loss side journey was extended by a single match as he defeated the older Jordan brother 10-1, and then fell to White in the quarterfinals 10-7. Templeton ended White's tournament bid with a 7-5 win in the semifinals and turned to face Jordan a second time.
With momentum on his side, Templeton took Jordan to double hill and then defeated him in the opening set 7-6. Jordan came back to win the decisive second set 7-5 and take home the first place prize.
