On March 13, a small but potent field gathered at the newly remodeled Rack and Cue in Campbellsville, Kentucky for its 3rd Annual Kentucky State 9-Ball Championship. Room manager and promoter David Whitlock and wife, Stephanie, hosted the event.
Early picks to win the one-day shootout were hometown favorite David Rice, Somerset's Russ Edwards, and defending Kentucky State Champion Landon Shuffett.
An early upset by Ronnie “Toothpick” Lane sent David Rice to the B-side. In other early matches, Shuffett defeated Edwards in the third round and proceeded to win against the always-tough Greg Pagulayan (Alex's uncle) in the fourth round. Sixteen-year old Shuffett had established himself as the player to beat.
On the B-side, Rice dug in with five straight wins only to be stopped by Russ Edwards in a hard-fought, late-night showdown. A strong tournament showing by Pee Wee Durham was halted by Edwards in the finals of the B-side.
Well past the midnight hour, the young Shuffett had successfully defended his title, getting by Edwards to complete an undefeated run of six consecutive matches to retain his title as Kentucky State 9-Ball Champion.
