Corr Makes a Convincing Comeback
Joss 9-Ball Tour / Parsippany, NJ
by Rick Davis
The final regular season stop of the Joss 9-Ball Tour took place April 28-29 at Comet Billiards in Parsippany, NJ, where a 49-player field emerged to do battle. Once the billiard skirmishes were complete, WPBA pro Karen Corr was declared the champion after a huge comeback.
Late action on the winners’ side wound down to Al Lapena and Bucky Souvanthong in the hot seat match, where Lapena just slipped through after a double-hill showdown. On the one-loss side things were in full swing, as the remaining handful of players attempted to advance further.
Tournament regular and Northeast terror Joey Korsiak blazed through Chris Lynch 9-0 and Johnathan Smith 9-4 to reach the quarterfinals. Nearby, Santos Sambajon Jr. eliminated Ray McNamarra 9-7 but was then upset double-hill by the incoming Corr after she had taken a defeat from Lapena. With Corr facing Korsiak in the quarterfinals, little time was wasted as Corr pressed through, knocking out Korsiak 9-5. Then in the semifinals, Corr ousted Souvanthong as well, this match going 9-4.
With a true double-elimination format the finals offered a long road for Corr, who needed to defeat Lapena twice, but after she took the first set 9-4 it was anyone’s game. In the following set Corr did not let up and, before long, took the set 9-5 to claim the match and the top finish after an impressive five-match comeback.
The Joss 9-Ball Tour will hold their final event of the season in August at the Turning Stone Casino, and those wishing to enter must contact tournament director Mike Zuglan to reserve their spot in the $25,000-added event.
Results:
1st Karen Corr
2nd Al Lapena
3rd Bucky Souvanthong
4th Joey Korsiak
5th Johnathan Smith
Santos Sambajon Jr.
7th Chris Lynch
Ray McNamarra
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