Though challenged by Jared McGee, who won five straight on the loss side and then, the opening set of a true double elimination final, Wendell Thompkins came back to win the second set, and for the first time, take home top honors at a stop on the Great Southern Billiard Tour. The $1,500-added event drew 60 entrants to Shore Thing Bar & Billiards in Myrtle Beach, SC, on the weekend of March 10-11.
From among the winners' side final four, Thompkins met up with Phillip Britt, who'd just sent McGee to the loss side. Joining them in the winners' side semifinals were Larry Jackson and Bobby Hicks. Thompkins defeated Britt 9-6, and faced Jackson, who'd downed Hicks 9-3. Thompkins got into the hot seat with a 9-4 win over Jackson and waited for McGee.
It was Hicks drawing McGee on the loss side; McGee having opened his loss-side campaign with victories over William Foster 10-5 and Clint Clark 10-8. Britt picked up Chase Gilbert, who'd gotten by Nick Van Allen, double hill, and Brian Capps 7-7 (Capps, a double-A, had to reach 10). Hicks and Britt both fell in their first loss-side match; Hicks to McGee 10-1 and Britt to Gilbert 7-5, thus denying McGee a re-match opportunity versus Britt. McGee took the quarterfinal match that followed against Gilbert 10-5.
McGee ended Jackson's semifinal bid for a re-match against Thompkins, defeating him 10-8. McGee then took the opening set of the true double elimination finals 10-6. Thompkins, though, came back to take the second set 9-8 to chalk up his first event win on the Great Southern Billiard Tour.
Tour directors Shannon and Marge Daulton thanked Brent and Ann Hudgins for hosting the event, 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, bar table tournament scheduled for March 17-18 at Raisin' Cain's in Inman, SC.
