Shannon Daulton, BJ Ussery, Dave & Inky Huffman (owners of Browns Billiards), & Mike Fuller
The hot seat and finals of the Great Southern Billiard Tour (GSBT) stop on the weekend of January 14-15 was a familiar scene for Michael Fuller and B.J. Ussery. In 2011, the two met in the finals of the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour six times, with Fuller winning all six of those final matchups. On the GSBT this past weekend, they were at it again, only this time, it was Ussery who survived their hot seat and final match to go undefeated. The $1,500 event drew 42 entrants to Brown's Billiards in Raleigh, NC.
Their first matchup in this event occurred in the battle for the hot seat. They'd sent their winners' side final four opponents west by identical 11-5 scores; Ussery over Younger Chapman and Fuller over Brad Shearer. They then battled to double hill, before Ussery prevailed to sit in the hot seat, waiting for Fuller's return.
Fuller's trip back was almost derailed by Brian White, who'd been sent to the loss side by Ussery in a winners' side final eight contest. White then went on to chalk up four straight before falling to Fuller in the semifinals. White got by Johnny Griffin 11-7 and Larry Kressel 11-9 to pick up Shearer. Chapman drew James Blackburn, who'd defeated Dave Brown, double hill, and Vernon Rogers 7-5. White moved into the quarterfinals with an 11-6 victory over Shearer, and was met by Blackburn, who'd survived a double hill struggle over Chapman.
White advanced to the semifinals with an 11-6 victory over Blackburn, but had his four-match winning streak snapped by Fuller. Fuller dropped him into third place 11-9 and turned back for yet another finals match against Ussery. In the opening set of a potential true double elimination final, Ussery prevailed 11-9 to complete his undefeated weekend on the GSBT.
Tour director Shannon Daulton extended thanks to owners Dave and Inky Huffman and the staff of Brown's Billiards, as well as sponsors Andy Gilbert Custom Cues, Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Mike Davis Exterminating, Tiger Products and Delta-13 racks.
Later this month, Daulton will travel to Elizabeth, IN to "do some playing of (his) own" at the Derby City Classic, scheduled for January 20-28. Next stop on the GSBT will be February 11-12 at QMaster Billiards in Virginia Beach, VA.
