However, this time McClusky struggled as well, in the sixth game making four balls o­n the break, including the 9, but also making the cueball as well. Despite the faltering breaks, Bowman was in high gear from the get-go, capitalizing o­n early misses and finally getting a break-and-run to take a commanding 5-1 lead. Another no-in break gave McClusky a game and then gave o­ne up the same way. Bowman broke and ran out to make it 7-2, and again McClusky sent the cueball off the table o­n the break and lost Game 10. A kick-scratch in the eleventh game gave McClusky a third point, but a missed 1-5 combo was to be his last turn at the table as Bowman ran the rack to win 9-3. Despite the occasionally erratic error and hard luck o­n the breaks, the spectators were treated to some excellent play. Ike Runnels and Mark Pratico filled out the third and fourth place slots.

Top 12 Open 9-ball finishes:

1. Jesse Bowman

2. Tom McClusky

3. Ike Runnels

4. Mark Pratico

5-6. Chad Vilmont/Donny Branson

7-8. Mark Doxtater/John Binion

9-12.  Brandon Ashcraft    Tom Martin   Dan Goepel   Tom Spencer

In the women’s 8-ball event, Pam Bell was sent to the o­ne-loss side early when Jolene Herum won o­n the hill in the third round, going o­n to defeat Julie Melman before succumbing to Debby Martin in the hot-seat match. True to form, Bell has forged her way past Tina Larsen and Barb Hamilton. Bell and Julie Schultz meet at high noon o­n Sunday.

Only eight players remain in the men’s field. Actually we must accurately call it the “open” field, as there was a lone female entrant, Denver’s Jackie Broadhurst. Broadhurst respectably won a few matches in the 8-ball event and finished o­ne out of the money in the 9-ball event.  Of the men, there were several early power-packed matches and upsets. Ike Runnels sent Bowman to the o­ne-loss side, and Jeff Sergent win over Brandon Ashcraft set up a Bowman-Ashcraft confrontation. Bowman prevailed and remains in the final eight. Josh Johnson stopped Ike Runnel’s run o­n the winners’ side. Adam Smith defeated Mclusky early but then lost to Jeff Sergent, eventually finishing tied for ninth, along with Chad Vilmont, Marvin Guss, and Sergio Perez. Sunday morning’s matches will be James Baraks vs. John Risko and Sergent vs. Johnson o­n the winners’ side, with Schuler cue sponsor John Binion vs Dan Walton and Donny Branson vs. Jesse Bowmancompleting the o­ne-loss side schedule.

Also underway are the Jack and Jill mixed scotch doubles tournament and the APA 5 and under handicap tournament, not to mention mini-tournaments galore! Along with the wrap up of the pool events, there will also be an open (amateur) steak-eating contest.  Where’s the beef? It's at the Windy City Open!

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