Johnny Walker
Johnny Walker has cashed five times in six years of playing on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour. He was runner-up to then-teenager Hunter White at an event in Cary, NC in June, 2016. It was the closest he’d come to the winners’ circle until this past weekend (Sat. July 31) when he went undefeated to claim his first event title and make it six cash finishes in six years; three of them this year. The event drew 40 entrants to Still Cluckin in Providence, NC.
Walker and Billy Richardson worked through the field to arrive at the winners’ side semifinal matches. Richardson versus Chad Snody and Walker taking on Brandon McGuire. Richardson and Snody battled to double hill before Richardson prevailed. Walker sent McGuire to the loss side 6-2. Walker claimed the hot seat 6-3 over Richardson and waited on what turned out to be the return of McGuire.
On the loss side, Snody picked up Chris Rhoades, who’d defeated Mike Hagood 6-3 and Tony Wall 6-1 to reach him. McGuire drew Michael Robertson, who’d recently sent Juan Rojas (6-4) and Jonathan Ailstock (double hill) home.
Snody and McGuire got right back to work, handing Rhoades and Robertson their second loss; Snody 6-3 over Rhoades and McGuire 6-1 over Robertson. McGuire then eliminated Snody in the quarterfinals 6-2. McGuire completed his return to the finals having given up only four racks in 22 loss-side games that included his 6-1 victory over Richardson in the semifinals.
McGuire’s 81% game-winning average on the loss side was trumped by Johnny Walker’s 88% game-winning average in the only set necessary in the true double elimination final. Walker completed his undefeated run with a 6-1 victory to claim his first tour title.
Tour director Herman Parker thanked Tommy and Tonya Lunsford and their Still Cluckin staff for their hospitality, as well as title sponsor Viking Cues, BarPoolTables.net, Dirty South Grind Apparel Co., Diamond Brat, Federal Savings Bank’s Mortgage Division and AZBilliards. The next stop on the Viking Cues’ Q City 9-Ball Tour, scheduled for this weekend, Aug. 7-8, will be a $500-added event ($1,000-added with 64-plus entrants), hosted by The Clubhouse in Lynchburg, VA.
