The Arizona State All Around Tour held their third stop of the year at On The Snap Billiards in Prescott, Arizona on August 13th and 14th with 26 players playing straight pool. Points leader Doug Hale was surprisingly not in attendance at this one, but seven of the top 10 points list players made their way up to the cool climate of northern Arizona to stake their claim on 1st place on the list.
To most of the fans in attendance surprise, Arizona's own Straight Pool star Rodney 'Babe' Thompson lost his first match out of the game to Mike Bevins. Babe would end up winning three matches on the left side of the board to just miss cashing in the event. Another player to take an early trip to the left side of the board was 2004 Great Arizona Ring Game Champion Jimmy Mendoza. Mendoza, dropped a tough decision to On The Snap's co-owner Eric Olson. The same Eric Olson that Mendoza eliminated just weeks ago in the bar-box 9-ball event in Phoenix. Phoenix's Tres Kane came out on fire and ran 53 at his first trip to the table. That run would stand as high run all weekend.
The winners side came down to #7 ranked Terry Osborne and #16 ranked Chris Adams. Adams scratched on the opening break and Osborne ran 39 to take an early lead. Adams brought his 'A' game to the table when he was given the chance and took the lead 80-60, but Osborne was not done. Osborne came back to tie the score at 92-92 and then made a great shot to gain control of the table and win the hot-seat 100-93.
On the one loss side, Adams found Jimmy Mendoza waiting. Mendoza missed the first event on the all-around tour, but he proved that he had his sights set on the all around title by winning seven straight matches to get to Adams on the one-loss side. After Mendoza eliminated Adams, the race to 150 finals were set between Mendoza and Osborne.
Osborne came out strong early and took a 40-25 lead. Mendoza put a couple good sized runs together and had the lead 80-40 before Osborne started clawing back. Osborne had the deficit down to less than 10 balls before Mendoza regained control and won the match 150-112.
Mendoza earned $935 in total prize money, with Osborne settling for $800. Adams and last events winner Mike Pankoff filled in the top four positions. Pankoff's 4th place finish was enough to give him first place on the points list, with Doug Hale, James Lester, Jimmy Mendoza and Eric Olson close behind.
The next event on the all around tour is 9-Ball at Main Street Billiards in Mesa on August 27th and 28th. Everyone will also be back up north at On The Snap for One Pocket on September 24th and 25th.
The Arizona State All-Around Championship is sponsored by Scott Whisler - Whisler Custom Cues, Hustlin USA and Platinum Billiards.
Complete Payouts:
1st Jimmy Mendoza $935
2nd Terry Osborne $800
3rd Chris Adams $365
4th Mike Pankoff $200
5th/6th Gus Briseno, Eric Olson $100
