Hatch Destroys Immonen, Archer Still Fighting
by InsidePOOL Staff
Dennis Hatch is proving to be a dominant force at the Turning Stone Classic IX, which is held this weekend at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY. After a 9-5 victory over Randy Labonte, Hatch, a frequent winner on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour, was then thrust into a match against former world champion Mika “Iceman” Immonen and triumphed by a stunning 9-2 score. Hatch’s next match will be against 2007 EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championship winner Dennis Orcollo, who sent fellow countryman Al Lapena west 9-2 earlier.
After his shocking loss 9-6 to Adam Stanton Thursday, two-time defending champion Johnny “The Scorpion” Archer rebounded, delivering a 9-0 whitewashing to his next opponent, Mike Renshaw. He then went on to play Bob Maidhof and ousted him from the event with a 9-5 win, keeping his hopes alive for another round.
Former world champ Thorsten Hohmann has aced both of his matches so far, defeating both Art Keck and Rick Grannis 9-1. In his next match he will face the young Canadian whirlwind, John Morra.
Karen Corr’s second opponent, Mike Carelli, forfeited their match, so the WPBA’s number-two player remains on the winners’ side. Road partner Julie Kelly, though, was sent west by Tom McGonagle after a narrow 9-7 loss.
Reigning world champion Ronnie Alcano bested fellow countryman Ignacio Chavez 9-6 to advance and will next play Dick Cappotto. Also hailing from the Philippines, Lee Van Corteza is still going strong as well, having bested Holden Chin 9-1 to move on and meet Mike Dechaine in the next round.
Atlanta’s Steve Moore dealt Steve “Leapin’” Lillis a 9-3 defeat earlier and will now have to face Niels “The Terminator” Feijen, who bested Dave Fernandez 9-4. Feijen recently scored a huge win at the International Challenge of Champions.
South Dakota’s Shane Van Boening, runner-up to Orcollo at the 2007 EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championship, skated through his first two matches with wins over David Abraham 9-3 and then Rick Manzi 9-4. Tournament director Mike Zuglan will be his next match. Zuglan just eked out a tough hill-hill thriller over Jeremy Sossel.
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