"The Buffalo" Hunt wins Western New York Tour stop
Jason "The Buffalo" Hunt went undefeated on Saturday, April 14 to capture the Western New York Tour stop title. The 8-ball, bar table event, with races to 3 on the winners' side and 2 on the loss side, drew 19 entrants to The Diamond Bar & Grill on Lockport, NY.
Both the winners' side semifinals, and the hot seat match went 3-2 double hill. Hunt downed Chris Bassett, Mark Creamer sent Eddie Rosa, Jr. west, and Hunt gained the hot seat over Creamer.
On the loss side, two father/son combinations were working toward potential matchups. Rosa, Jr. moved over to face Willie Rhodes (son to Hank Rhodes), who'd defeated Bob Brott and Rick Sciotti, both 2-1. Bassett picked up Rosa, Sr., who'd advanced past tour director Nick Brucato 2-1 and spoiled a Rhodes family matchup by shutting out the elder Hank Rhodes. Rosa, Sr. did his part to secure a family quarterfinal by shutting out Bassett. Rosa, Jr., though, was shut out by the younger Rhodes (Willie).
Chalking up his third straight shutout, the elder Rosa defeated the younger Rhodes, and moved into the semifinals against Creamer. Rosa, Sr. gave up only a single rack in those semifinals and got a shot at "The Buffalo" Hunt. Hunt, though, did likewise, giving up only a single rack in a winner-breaks, race-to-6 final that ended around 4 a.m. and secured the event title.
Tour director Brucato extended thanks to Diamond Bar & Grill owner Tony Ciarfella and his staff, who provided players with free food - hot dogs, cheeseburgers and chicken wings - throughout the entire tournament.
