Mike Banks, Jr. went undefeated through a field of 43 entrants to capture the 8th annual Bobby Wells Memorial Tournament on the weekend of June 5-6. The $2,500-added event, which included a $250-added, five entrant ladies tournament was hosted by Side Pockets in Wichita. The event was held under the auspices of the Midwest 9-Ball Tour.
Banks, working among the winners' side final four, defeated John Gabriel 9-7 to get into the hot seat match versus Midwest 9-Ball Tour veteran Shane McMinn, who'd defeated K.C. Massey 9-6. Banks and McMinn locked horns in a hill-hill struggle for possession of the hot seat that eventually sent McMinn to the semifinals, and a rematch against Massey.
First up for Massey on the one-loss side was Jaron Williams, who'd defeated Taylor Anderson 9-3 and survived a double hill match against Marty Taylor to reach him. Gabriel picked up George Trujillo, who'd gotten by Glenn Atwell 9-6 and Terry Young 9-7. Massey downed Williams 9-6 and advanced to the quarterfinals against Trujillo, who'd survived double hill over Gabriel.
Massey got his second chance against McMinn with a 9-5 victory over Trujillo, and then delivered on the payback with a 9-3 victory over McMinn in the semifinals. They played only the first set of the true double elimination finals, with Miller prevailing 9-6, to complete his undefeated weekend.
Connie Williams took the five-entrant ladies event, defeating Linda Meyer, first in the battle for the hot seat and then, in the finals 7-5.
