Jones, Compton split 9-Ball Banks title, Villareal leads the Ladies, and Strickland takes Seniors
In a five-event, $10,000-added weekend that stretched from Thursday, May 28, until the early morning hours of Monday, May 31, a total of 250 entrants (with some duplication) battled for just over $29,000 in tournament prize money. Commencing with a 32-entrant, $2,000-added One-Pocket event on Thursday, the weekend moved on to a 32-entrant, $2,000-added 9-Ball Banks event on Friday. The 128-entrant, $5000-added main event, the Open 9-Ball Tournament, got underway on Friday, as well. On Sunday, 26 women competed in a $500-added Ladies Tournament, while 32 Seniors (55+) competed in a $500-added, Seniors tournament. All of which was hosted by Big Tyme Billiards in Spring, TX.
Alex Pagulayan came from deep on the loss side in the Open 9-Ball event to double dip Rueben Bautista in the finals. Skyler Woodward had sent him to the loss side in the early going, and he was able to avenge that early loss with a victory over Woodward in the quarterfinals. He completed his run with a win over Yu-Hsuan Cheng in the semifinals, and 7-2 and 7-3 double elimination wins over Bautista in the finals.
Pagulayan and Jeremy Jones opted out of playing a final in the One Pocket event, and split the $3,900 prize for the top two spots. Jones and Chip Compton did the same thing in the 9-Ball Banks tournament, splitting the same amount of money. The One Pocket and 9-Ball Banks events were single elimination tournaments, so the two who opted out of a final event in each, shared the event title.
Pagulayan defeated Daniel McKenney and Jeremy Jones eliminated Josh Roberts in the One Pocket semifinals. In the semifinals of the 9-Ball Banks, Jones downed John Morra, and Compton defeated Justin Hall.
Vivian Villareal went undefeated to capture the Ladies title, defeating Ricki Casper twice; once in the battle for the hot seat and again in the finals. In a similar fashion, Denis Strickland took home the Seniors title. He went undefeated and through Ronnie Wiseman twice. A 16-player Mini-tournament, held early in the proceedings, allowed two players - Charlie Bryant and Daniel McKenney - to split $800.
