Barouty Wins Third Annual NJ State Straight Pool Title

By Larry Kendall

Dan Barouty went undefeated through a field of 24 players in the Third Annual New Jersey Straight Pool Tournament, held at Bill Haley’s Comet Billiards in Parsippany, NJ. Beginning o­n September 24, over three days of play saw Barouty compete with both today’s pros and the legends of straight pool.

The weekend was a straight pool fan’s dream come true. Hall of Fame members Dallas West and Lou Butera, six-time NJ State Straight Pool champion Jack Colavita. Allen Hopkins, Tony Robles, Santos Sambajon Jr., and Danny Harriman were among the game’s stars that peppered the play list.  West scored the high run of 112 and was the o­nly player to break the elusive 100 ball run mark.  Runner-up in 2003, Tony Robles had the high run at last year’s event with a 141 score.

In the final match, Barouty defeated Bob Maidhof of Pennsylvania by a score of 200-73.  After Maidhof committed his third foul with a side pocket scratch, Barouty took off Barouty took off, costing Maidhof a total of 18 points.  Barouty had sent Maidhof to the o­ne-loss side in an earlier match by a score of 150-19.

Maidhof, after playing the previous evening until after 3 a.m., defeated both Hopkins and Sambajon earlier in the day to reach the top of the o­ne-loss side.  In contrast to Hopkins, a seasoned 14.1 veteran and holder of U.S. Open Straight Pool titles, this was Sambajon’s straight pool debut. His third-place finish, thanks to his excellent shot-making abilities, is remarkable.

The reverence and traditions of the game were brought into focus at the commencement of the semifinal match. BCA Senior Referee Ed Smith was o­n hand to call the players’ shots, announce their present run totals after each ball pocketed, total the score at the end of each inning, and rack the balls while wearing the traditional white gloves. This was a classic event that will hopefully continue for a long time to come. Fans can thank Jack Colavita and Bill and Marcia Haley of Comet Billiards for their efforts in keeping this tradition alive.

Results:

1st Danny Barouty

2nd Bob Maidhof

3rd Santos Sambajon Jr.

4th Allen Hopkins

5th Jack Colavita, Dallas West

7th Danny Harriman, Tony Robles

9th Flaco Rodriquez, Steve Lillis, Tom Walter, Lou Butera

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