The Gateway Amateur 9-Ball Tour held Tour Stop #10 at Teacher's Billiards in St. Peters, Missouri on Saturday, July 8th. A field of 43 players came out to try to earn extra points and a chance to qualify in the Final Tour Stop on September 9-10, 2006. The top 64 in points qualify to participate, as well as any player that has played in 10 of the first 11 Tour Stops.
Dwayne Garfoot again put on a display of determination during the tournament. Garfoot defeated his opponents 5-3, 5-3, 5-3, 5-3 only to get sent to the losers bracket by Cary Heaton with a 1-5 loss. Garfoot didn't really appreciate the beaten by Heaton and vowed to get a second chance at Heaton. On the losers side Garfoot smoked his opponent with a 4-0 victory, earning his chance to face Heaton once again on the winners side.
After winning the first two events of the 2006 Tour Season, Cary Heaton has not been able to perform well on the tables, until this weekend. Heaton had one of the few first round matches and was able to advance to the next round with a 5-2 win. His next four opponents gave him a tough time, all four taking him to the hill, but Heaton was able to send each of them to the other side of the bracket with 5-4 victories. One match away from sitting in the hot seat, Heaton turned up the heat and cruised by with a 5-1 commanding win. After waiting a while for the winner to emerge from the losers side, Heaton had time to get refreshed and relax. Dwayne Garfoot emerged victoriously from the other side and was ready to take Heaton down. Apparently Heaton had plans of his own and allowed Garfoot the opportunity to watch a large majority of the match from his chair, defeating him by a score of 7-1.
This month drew 7 additional new players to the Tour, making it a total of 217 members. The Tour consists of players from 10 different states, to include: Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio and Texas. We have 17 female members and 6 junior members. We are averaging 50 players per Tour Stop and a $2000 payout per event (including player auction). So far this year we have paid out over $20,000 in prize money with one regular Tour Stop remaining before our $2,500+ ADDED Final Tour Stop on September 9-10, 2006 at Teacher's Billiards in St. Peters, Missouri.
Complete Results: (including Calcutta)
1st- Cary Heaton- $700 + Coveted Tour Plaque
2nd- Dwayne Garfoot- $380
3rd- Doug Patrick- $230
4th- Terry Short- $110
5th/6th- Vernon Virgin & Jim Jacobs- $40 each
7th/8th- John Wilson & Jim Tow- $20 each
Top Female- Cathy McClung- $50
Top Junior- Curtis Fronchek- $50
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors: AZBilliards, Billiards Press, Billiard Sanctuary Academy of the Cueing Arts, On The Hill Q Sales, Office Depot, Pocket Lathe, BreakRak.com, SlipStic, CuePen.com, Ultimate Pool Player Magazine, Zim's Rack Billiard Promotions, CAM Custom Cues, Chris' Custom Cues, Patrick Custom Cues, Webb Custom Cues, Zimmerman Custom Cues, International Cuemakers Association, Teachers Billiards in Fairview Heights, Illinois, Teachers Billiards in St. Peters, Missouri, Chesterfield Billiards in Chesterfield, Missouri, Riverbend Billiards in Alton, Illinois.
For more information on the Gateway Amateur 9-Ball Tour or if you would like to become a sponsor, visit Zim's Rack Billiard Promotions at www.zimsrack.com.
