The forty-first stop on the 2010-2011 Lucasi Hybrid All American Tour (produced by the American CueSports Alliance – ACS) was produced in Pontiac, IL, on Saturday, March 19, at the Pontiac Crystal Palace. The $500 added event featured a 30-player field in a double-elimination 8-ball format on 7-foot bar boxes with masters spotting one game to the open field. Bobby McGrath Jr. (Washington, IL) took the hot seat with a win over Gil Hernandez 6-4 (Mt. Prospect, IL). Gil had placed Bob Nodine (Streator,IL) in the B-side of the event in a hill-hill match 6-4. Bobby Jr had placed Ike Runnels (Kankakee, IL) in the B-side with his outstanding comeback, being down 5-0 to win at 6-5.
On the B-side it was Eric Naretto (Odell, IL) who was getting the hot stroke. Eric displaced Ike Runnels at 5th-6th using the 1 game spot to win 3-1. Donnie Thompson (Ottawa,IL) took down Nodine at 5th-6th by a 4-2 win. This set up for a great match between Naretto and Thompson for a chance at Gil Hernandez. It was a close match, with each player not giving any room for errors. In the end Naretto had the break and run for the win with both players on the hill. Naretto went on to play Hernandez for a chance at McGrath. This time Gil would not be denied, ending a super performance from the young Naretto, who would go down 4-2. This set up a rematch between Gil and Bobby for the title. However McGrath was the man of the day, with another win over Hernandez for the title - 6-0 !
The Pontiac Crystal Palace would like to thank all players for coming out. They hope to see you back soon.
By virtue of Bobby McGrath being the highest-finishing ACS member in the event, he qualified for a free 9-Ball singles entry into the 2011 Lucasi Hybrid ACS Nationals at the Tropicana Las Vegas – courtesy of the ACS. The ACS wishes to thank sponsors Lucasi Hybrid Cues, Championship Billiard Fabric and Nick Varner Signature Cases for their support in donating “Value-In-Kind” product for this and all stops on the Lucasi Hybrid All American Tour. All entries in the Tour are also entered into a drawing in an end-of-Tour drawing for four (4) $400+value Lucasi Hybrid Cues courtesy of Ozone Billiards. Sponsorship opportunities and tour stop openings are still available for the 2010/2011 All American Tour by contacting the ACS.
The Tour showcases two events this Saturday, March 26: 1). the $1.000 added “Greenfields 8-Ball Open” at Greenfields Pool & Sports Bar in Lakewood, CO (contact owner Todd Grosvenor at 303-989-9820); and 2). a $500-added 8-ball stop at Sharky's Billiards (formerly Miller Time) in Davenport, IA (contact Michelle Miller at 563-359-7225). Further information, entry details and schedules for the 2010/2011 Lucasi Hybrid All American Tour are available at www.americancuesports.org.
