Hometown favorite Bobby Pickle, who calls JOB Billiards his second home, had a mixed day: He took another top name, Larry Nevel, to school in their first-round match, running seven racks o­n the way to an 11-4 rout and barely allowing Nevel a shot. He then led Barry Emerson 6-4 before the latter ran seven straight wins to an 11-6 comeback. (Nevel, meanwhile, stayed alive with a commanding win over Bob Muriel.)

In other action, local rising star Jonathon “Hennessee” Pinegar toppled Nate McGaha and Doug Young to stay among the unbeaten field. In the latter match, he survived Young's amazing last-ditch comeback -- three consecutive 9 ball drops o­n the break -- to win 11-9. Another match-up of fellow Nashvillians Anthony Barnett and Eric Hall eliminated Barnett after a seesawing showdown in which the latter held the hill at 10-8 o­nly to see Hall run three games to win by the score of 11-10. In the final game, Barnett "rimmed the cup" o­n a corner shot with the 4 ball and then had to watch as Hall ran the table for the victory.

Action begins again at 1:00 Friday afternoon, with rounds at 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and in the evening. The women's division begins at 7:00 p.m. and will feature an array of talented contenders. 

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