Big Wheeler Trucks Through Fury Open

By Bill Rosenberger

Adam Wheeler doesn't have a diesel engine, nor does he have eighteen wheels, but his internal engine was fired up Sunday, November 14 at Capone's Billiards.  Wheeler trucked through the 50-player field in the Fury Florida Amateur 9-Ball event and emerged the victor.

Wheeler's path to the winners' circle wasn't easy, though, as he had to battle through the west side following a second-round knockout by Jose Ybarra.  And while Wheeler was plowing through his competition, the winners' bracket matches were mostly down to the wire.  Tournament director Kay Higgins said that until the last few matches, many of the contests were reaching hill-hill. 

The winner's bracket semifinals featured two tough matches between four tough players.  Jim Sandaler and Robert Noon broke first, and it was Noon who jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead.  Sandaler fought back but was no match for Noon, who finished him off 7-2.  In the second semifinal match, Larry Walthall played Ybarra, and the two kept it close early.  They traded the first few racks back and forth, tying the match at 2 apiece, but Walthall was able to run away toward the end for a 7-4 win. 

Ybarra and Sandaler headed west to the quarterfinals of the o­ne-loss side, and Ybarra ousted Dan Lavoie, while Wheeler took care of Sandaler.  In the fourth-place match, Wheeler narrowly escaped with a 5-4 win over Ybarra, ensuring himself at least a third-place finish.

Walthall and Noon squared off in the hot seat match, and Noon took control early.  He jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Walthall put a tally in his win column.  Noon cruised from there o­n his way to a 7-2 win.  Walthall and Wheeler then played in the semifinals, and Wheeler again had to exhaust all he had to pull out his second straight hill-hill match 5-4. 

In the finals, Wheeler peeled out and hit 5-0 before Noon even got his engine started.  Noon, though, did catch up, winning three straight to get within two games, but Wheeler hit cruise control and ran out many of the last four games for his 9-3 victory.

Results:

1st Adam Wheeler $510

2nd Robert Noon $275

3rd Larry Walthall $185

4th Jose Ybarra $100

5th Jim Sandaler, Dan Lavoie $75

7th Chuck Curro, James Roberts $60

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