Shannon Daulton, Landon Shuffett, Justin Bergman, Mike Medley (owner of Michael's Billiards)
Landon Shuffett and Justin Bergman faced each other three times in two separate GSBT tournaments on the weekend of April 21-22. In the $1,500-added, 9-ball event that drew 29 entrants, they met for the first time in the finals, and Shuffett took the title with back to back wins over Bergman. In the $500-added, 8-ball, bar table event that drew 30, they met in the semifinals, and it was Bergman, advancing to the finals, and defeating hot seat occupant, Corey Morphew. Bergman was in the hot seat match of both tournaments, while Shuffett came from the loss side in both.
Shuffett was already on the loss-side in the 8-ball event, as Bergman was advancing to the winners' side semifinals against Brad Ragon. Corey Morphew and T.J. Back were the opponents in the other semifinal. Morphew sent Back over 6-1, and in the hot seat, faced Bergman, who'd downed Ragon 7-1. Morphew, taking advantage of a handicap, got into the hot seat with a 6-6 victory (Bergman going to 8).
Ragon moved over and ran into Shuffett, who ended his (Ragon's) day with a 7-3 victory and advanced to the quarterfinals. Back fell immediately to Billy Thorpe 6-1, and squared off against Shuffett. Shuffet completed his loss-side run with a 7-3 victory over Thorpe and then, in a straight-up race to 7 semifinal, Bergman survived a double hill match that sent him back to face Morphew in the finals. Bergman double dipped Morphew (7-5, 7-1) to claim the 8-ball title.
Shuffett and Bergman both advanced to the winners' side final four in the 9-ball event; Shuffett, to face Bruce Lutrell, Bergman facing Robert Frost. Bergman advanced to the hot seat match with an 11-8 victory over Frost, and was met by Lutrell, who'd just sent Shuffett west 7-8 (Shuffett going to 11). Bergman shut out Lutrell to gain the hot seat.
Shuffett shuffled over to take on Clay Carman, as Frost picked up Charles Raulston. Shuffet and Frost met in the quarterfinals, once Shuffett had eliminated Carman 9-4 and Frost had dispatched Raulston 9-6. Shuffett then wreaked his vengeance on Lutrell in the semifinals by allowing him only a single rack. He followed that with two identical 11-4 victories that secured the 9-ball event title.
Tour directors Shannon and Marge Daulton thanked Mike Medley and his Michael's Billiards and Games staff for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Mike Davis Exterminating, Tiger Products and Delta-13 racks. Next stop on the GSBT is a $1,500-added, 9-ball tournament, scheduled for May 5-6 at Speak Eazy Billiards in Sanford, NC.
