Shannon
Mike Wise went undefeated through a field of 40 entrants on hand for the Great Southern Billiard Tour stop on the weekend of December 8-9, but not before being challenged in the finals by Zach Robbins, who'd won five straight on the loss side to get there. The $1,000-added Amateur event was hosted by Raisin' Cain's in Inman, SC.
A good cross-section of amateur rankings were featured among the winners' side final four. It was Wise (B) and Josh Newman (A) who squared off in the hot seat match. Wise had sent Josh Richards (C) to the loss side 7-5, as Newman was busy sending Jared McGee (AA) over 9-6. Wise sent Newman to the semifinals 7-2, and waited in the hot seat for what turned out to be the return of Robbins.
Robbins loss-side streak, which began when he'd been sent west from among the winners' side final eight by Richards, commenced with a shutout over Jeff Abernathy and a 7-2 victory over Joel Cain, which set him up to face McGee. Richards picked up Scott Howard, who'd gotten by Justin Price 7-2, and Daniel Autry 7-4. With four on the wire at the start, Robbins ended McGee's AA-run with a double hill win, while Richards (C) did likewise to Howard (B).
Robbins then wreaked his vengeance on Richards in the quarterfinals 7-4, and went on to defeat Newman in the semifinals 7-6. In a straight-up, battle of the "B"s, final race to 7, Robbins and Wise fought back and forth to double hill. Robbins scratched shooting at the 8-ball in two separate games, which, in effect, cost him the set. Wise prevailed to secure the event title.
Tour Directors Shannon Daulton and Marge Cooper thanked Raisin' Cain's owners Joel and Sheila Cain for their hospitality. They also extended wishes for a Happy Holiday season to all of their players, sponsors, room owners and spectators, as well as announcing that the GSBT would be back in action on the weekend of December 17-18, for a $1,500-added Christmas/Player Appreciation Tournament, to be hosted by Speak Eazy Billiards in Sanford, NC.
