Shannon, Chris Kendrick, Travis Dorn, and Joel Caine
Chris Kendrick went undefeated on the Great Southern Billiard Tour stop on the weekend of March 17-18, but not before being challenged in the finals by Travis Dorn, who won seven on the loss side to meet him in those finals. It was Kendrick's first win on the GSBT and the first appearance in the finals for both he and Dorn. The $1,500-added event drew 53 entrants to Raisin' Caine's in Inman, SC.
From among the winners' side final four, Kendrick defeated Josh Newman 7-6 (Newman going to 10), while Steve Holman was busy sending Shonte Barnes west 7-5. Kendrick got into the hot seat with a 7-2 and waited on Dorn.
With two loss-side matches chalked up already, Dorn defeated Danny Turner 9-1 and Steve Cox 9-3 to meet up with Newman. Barnes drew Justin Mathis, who'd defeated Jake Weaver 7-5 (Weaver had been responsible for sending Dorn to the loss side) and Brandon Blackburn 7-4. Dorn downed Newman 9-6 to move into the quarterfinals against Mathis, who'd shut out Barnes.
Dorn chalked up his seventh and final victory with a 9-6 defeat of Holman in the semifinals. Kendrick completed his undefeated journey through the field of 53 with a 7-3 win in the opening set of a true double elimination final.
Tour Director Shannon Daulton thanked Joel Caine and his staff at Raisin' Caine's for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Mike Davis Exterminating, Tiger Products and Delta-13 racks. Wishes for a speedy recovery were extended (and supplemented by all of us here at AZBilliards) to his co-director and personal partner, Marge Daulton, who is recovering from surgery at home, where she is expected to be for the next few weeks.
