Michael Fuller Holds Off Shane Winters For Jacoby Tour Win

Fast Eddie's in Goldsboro, North Carolina hosted the 3rd stop on the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour December 8-9, drawing a field of 24 players for the $1000 guaranteed added Main Event. Michael Fuller held off young gun Shane Winters in the final match, earning $1000 for first place plus entry into the 2008 Carolina Open, courtesy of Fast Eddie's.

To kick things off, an Early Bird Tournament was held on Friday night. Mike Danner defeated Charles Jones 7-4 in the final match. Results for this event were: 1st Mike Danner $120; 2nd Charles Jones $80; 3rd Younger Chapman $40.

In the Junior Tournament on Sunday, Mac Harrell defeated Justin Ward 7-1 in the final match. Junior players score points which accumulate for the first 10 events on the tour. The top point winners in each division will qualify for the 2008 Junior Nationals.

Also on Sunday, a Second Chance Tournament was won by Dave Gray. Gray managed a 7-6 win over Cary Dunn. Final results: 1st Dave Gray $100; 2nd Cary Dunn $60.

In the Main Event, Fuller survived a close match against Sam Monday (7-5) before being sent to the one-loss side by Winters (7-3).

Winters, having already defeated Wade Crane (7-5), continued his march to the hotseat with wins over Larry Faulk (7-5) and Peaches Fuller (7-3).

Meanwhile, Fuller put together a run through the one-loss side by defeating Monday (7-5), Younger Chapman (7-1), Montez Lloyd (7-1), Charles Jones (7-3) and Peaches (Michael's dad) Fuller (7-6) to earn a rematch with Winters.

The final match - a single race to 9 - started with Fuller taking a 3-0 lead thanks to two break-and-runs plus a scratch by Winters early in the second rack that led to a run out. Winters capitalized on a similar mistake by Fuller in the fourth rack but scratched on the 1-ball. Fuller took ball-in-hand and ran out, making the score 4-1.

In the sixth rack, Fuller missed position and had to kick safe in the middle of a runout. Winters kicked the 5-ball in but scratched on the next shot and Fuller ran out. They split the next two racks, both players failing on safety attempts after the break and leaving the other player out.

Down 6-2 in the ninth rack, Winters needed a break and got it. A no-hit foul by Fuller after being snookered gave Winters ball-in-hand and he cleared the table. A subsequent break-and-run made the score 6-4 with Winters breaking. Feeling the momentum, Winters sank two balls on the break, but his hopes were dashed when the cue ball found the side pocket. Fuller took ball-in-hand and ran out for a 7-4 lead. Winters won the next game but, once again, scratched on the break. Fuller ran out to go on the hill leading 8-5.

In the fourteenth rack, Fuller left himself bad shape and hung the 8-ball in the corner to keep Winters' hopes alive. Winters made the last two balls to make the score 8-6. Although finally avoiding a scratch on the break, Winters was left with a very difficult cut on the 1-ball. He decided to go for it and, despite accidentally pocketing the 7-ball on the miss, ultimately lost control of the table. Fuller finished the rack to win the match 9-6.

J. C. Connor was the lucky winner of a $400 cue raffle from Jacoby Custom Cues. Allen Tripp won a $500 cue that was raffled on Sunday.

Special thanks to the staff of Fast Eddie's as well as owners Bucky Braxton and Gene Hooker for supporting the Jacoby Tour.

The next stop on the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour will be December 29-30 at Smokin' Cue in Charlotte, NC. The event will guarantee $1000 added with $1000 for 1st place plus entry into the 2008 Carolina Open, courtesy of Fast Eddie's.