D.J. Hopkins, room owner Shawn Feaster, Tsephel Tenzin and Wendy Feaster
Venturing out to your first regional tour stop is a big step. You certainly don’t know how you are going to perform against the higher level of players. Different players may set different goals for themselves at an event like this. Win a match, win two matches, make day two of the event, cash at the event. For Tsephel Tenzin, it turns out that he couldn’t have set his goals any higher than how he did at the first stop on the Joss NE 9-Ball Tour at Winnipesaukee Bar & Billiards in Laconia, NH.
Tenzin teamed up with road partner DJ Hopkins for the 90-minute trip from their hometown in Keene, NH to Laconia to try their luck at stop one on the Joss Tour. It was the first time the tour had held a stop at this venue and both players have been getting back into playing after taking a break from the game.
Tenzin remained undefeated on Saturday, with wins over Dan Sharlow, Dave Powis, and Geoff James. Hopkins was also undefeated on Saturday, with wins over Jeff Dunn, Brandon Butler, and Doug Masiero. Joining them at the end of the day on the winner’s side were Scott Haskell and Dave Hall.
Sunday play saw Hall with a dominating 9-1 win over Haskell and Hopkins with a hill-hill win over Tenzin. Hopkins then took the hot-seat with another hill-hill win, this time over Hall.
Tenzin won three on the left side of the board (Beau Powers, Bob Madenjian, and Dave Hall) and the rematch between these two friends was on in the finals. Already guaranteed the largest part of the prize money, these two players were more importantly fighting for bragging rights between them. Tenzin made quick work of the first set with a 9-2 win and then came out on top of a much closer 7-5 second set to earn his first Joss NE 9-Ball Tour stop win.
Sunday’s second chance tournament saw Geoff James hold off a late run by Jeff Dunn, to score a hill-hill win in the second set for the tournament win.
Mike Zuglan will bring the Joss Tour to Yale Billiards in Wallingford, CY for stop #2 this weekend.
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