Great Southern Billiard Tour crowns another winner in Chattanooga
By Joshua Johnson, Inside POOL
Once again a new champion was crowned as Daniel “Lil D” McKenney went through an impressive 61 player field undefeated to take down the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s Choo Choo Amateur 9-Ball Classic. McKenney, from Hattiesburg, MS, put on an impressive display of shot making in taking the $1000 first place prize and crystal trophy.
Daniel "Lil D" McKenney and Arlo Walsman
No one was allowed to get closer than two games to defeating him until the finals, when Arlo Walsman reached the hill first in the 10-9 race. McKenney was not phased however, as he made quick work of a difficult layout at hill-hill to secure the victory, 9-9. McKenney’s path to the finals took him through Mike Basha (9-1), Joe Williams (9-4), David Rice (9-7), Jimmy Dickerson (9-6), Davey Crockett (9-6), and Walsman (9-6).
Walsman who is originally from Detroit, MI, took second in his second event with the GSBT. He made it all the way to the hot seat match undefeated, but fell to the powerful McKenney 9-6. Once there, he faced the task of defeating 2-time Jr. National Champion Landon Shuffett for a second time.
Shuffett, looking to get payback on Walsman for an earlier defeat, jumped out to leads of 4-0, 5-1, and 6-3 before Walsman tightened up his shot group and came back to win 10-7 in the alternate break format. Shuffett continued his strong showings on the GSBT by taking third place. Taking 4th place this weekend was former Tennessee State Champion Josh O’Neal.
Once again a new champion was crowned as Daniel “Lil D” McKenney went through an impressive 61 player field undefeated to take down the Great Southern Billiard Tour’s Choo Choo Amateur 9-Ball Classic.
Payouts:
1st Daniel McKenney $1000
2nd Arlo Walsman $600
3rd Landon Shuffett $400
4th Josh O’Neal $200
5/6th Gabe Appolos $125
Davey Crockett
7/8th Nicholas Hickerson $80
Jaime Cox
9-12th Danny Smith $30
Matt Reed
Roy Payton
Jimmy Dickerson
13-16th John Maikke Free Entry
Russ Edwards
Rod Fortner
Wayne Jenkins
The Great Southern Billiard Tour would like to thank the owner of the Diamond Billiard Club, Davey Crockett, as well has his staff for being absolutely great hosts for this event as well as its sponsors: Nick Varner Cues and Cases, Tiger Products, Delta-13 Rack, Gambler Clothing, Masters Chalk, Inside POOL, AZ Billiards, Professor Q-BALL, and Billiards Stroke News. The GSBT will have a week off for Independence Day, but will be back in action the weekend of 11-12 July from Guys and Dolls in Roanoke, VA, for another A/B amateur event.