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Headstring News
Southeast Heat Wave: Owen wins in South Carolina; Ulrich tops in Georgia
Sep 18, 2007, 11:04 AM
 | | Ulrich is still scorching after taking second at Turning Stone. (Photo: Bruce Clayton) |
The professional tournament scene might be a bit chilly in the weeks leading up to the U.S. Open, but regional tours keep plugging along in the wake of Labor Day.
Over the Sept. 15-16 weekend, Gabe Owen topped a typically strong field in the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s Mid-Carolina Classic, and Louis Ulrich continued his hot streak by snapping off the Savannah Open.
Owen survived a tough field of 32 of the region’s strongest players that gathered for the $1,500-added event in Rock Hill, S.C. With the winners side reduced to four, Owen faced Shannon Daulton in a high-profile match up. Avoiding the dramatic, Owen controlled the match throughout, eventually posting a 9-5 win.
The hot-seat match was a bit closer for Owen. Facing Matt Reed, who was making his first finish in the money on tour, Owen inched ahead at the wire, 9-7, taking his spot in the hot-seat.
Daulton prevailed over tour mainstay Jeff Abernethy, 7-4, to meet Reed in the losers-side final. In this case, the tour money leader, Daulton, could not keep pace with Reed, the newcomer, who advanced, 7-4, to set up a rematch with Owen.
In the single-set race-to-9, Owen jumped out to a 7-3 advantage. Reed managed to take four straight racks and tie the match, but his streak would end. Owen swept up the last two racks, taking the final by a 9-7 margin.
In another big event in the Southeast U.S., Louis Ulrich topped a talented field — included Mike Davis, Stevie Moore and Tommy Kennedy — at the $2,500-added J. Pechauer Southeast Open 9-Ball event in Savannah, Ga.
Ulrich ran through the right side to meet B.J. Ussery in the hot-seat match. Ussery, who won the previous S.E. Open event, couldn’t keep up with Ulrich, who was making his first appearance on tour this year. Ulrich coasted into the hot-seat by a 9-6 score.
On the left side, Tommy Kennedy powered past Ussery, 9-4, to advance to the finals. The red-hot Ulrich was too much for the former U.S. Open champion. It was all Ulrich on his way to a 9-5 victory, pocketing $1,400 for his two days at the table.
Great Southern Billiard Tour Results:
1. Gabe Owen $1,600
2. Matt Reed $800
3. Shannon Daulton $500
4. Jeff Abernethy $250
S.E. Open 9-Ball Tour Results:
1. Louis Ulrich $1,400
2. Tommy Kennedy $800
3. B.J. Ussery $600
4. Mike Davis $500
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