Charlie Bryant (File photo courtesy of Rick Schmitz)
According to our records, Charlie "Hillbilly" Bryant hadn't been seen in the money on a pool table since last December, when he defeated Corey Deuel in the finals of the Space City Open 9-Ball event in Houston; one of three events he'd won, dating back to June. He re-emerged on Saturday, June 22 to go undefeated at a stop on the Fast Eddie's tour in Austin, TX. The $500-added event drew 22 entrants, and was completed without benefit of a final match between Bryant and Raphael Martinez.
Bryant and Martinez had met among the winners' side final four, with Bryant prevailing 9-7. Mark Galacia, in the meantime, defeated Rudy Sanchez, double hill, to meet Bryant in the battle for the hot seat. Bryant won that match, his last, 9-5.
On the loss side, Martinez met up with Kevin Guimond, who'd gotten by Jerry Prado and Kyle Perry, both 7-4. Sanchez drew James Davis, Sr., who'd been sent to the loss side by Martinez in a winners' side final eight battle, and defeated Ernest Sanchez 7-2 and Eric Brown 7-5. Martinez and Davis, Sr. met for a quarterfinal re-match after identical 7-5 victories over Guimond and Sanchez.
Martinez defeated Davis, Sr. a second time, 7-4, and then, defeated Galacia in the semifinals 7-5. At that point, Bryant and Martinez opted out of a final match, splitting the top two prizes, and leaving the undefeated Bryant as the official winner of the event.
