The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour held the Northeast 9-Ball Open XVI at Pro Billiard Lounge in Rotterdam, NY this weekend with a field of 46 players.
The winners side came down to tour director Mike Zuglan against last year's director Joe Tucker. Tucker ran all of the Joss events last season, but did not continue this year in an effort to spend more time playing. The extra playing paid off as Tucker cruised to a 9-3 win over Zuglan, who is also the owner of Pro Billiard Lounge.
Zuglan took the loss graciously and temporarily moved to the left side of the board where he defeated Pat McNally 9-5 to earn the rematch with Tucker in the true double elimination finals.
The first set of the finals was very tight with both players staying close, until Zuglan was able to creep out ahead and win the match 9-6. The second set was revenge for the thumping that Tucker gave Zuglan earlier. Zuglan won the second match by an identical 9-3 score to win the tournament and the $1400 in first place prize money. Tucker was forced to settle for $1000 in second place prize money. McNally and Kevin Ketz filled out the top four spots.
The Joss NE 9-Ball Tour will be at The Ultimate Billiards Club in Berlin, CT next weekend for a $5000 added event.
Complete Payouts:
1st Mike Zuglan $1400
2nd Joe Tucker $1000
3rd Pat McNally $750
4th Kevin Ketz $580
5th/6th Tom McGonagle, Tim Parisian $425
7th/8th Dick Cappotto, Vannavong Khattignavong $250
9th/12th Frank Lawrence, Nelson Oliveira, Marty Herman, Will Freeman $150
Photo courtesy of Diana Hoppe - Pool Pics by Hoppe
