Cote Comes Out o­n Top at Rhode Island Billiards

By InsidePOOL Staff 

The New England Invitational B-Series rolled o­n at Rhode Island Billiards Club in Providence, RI.  The February 20 event drew a tough field of 23 players all looking to make their mark o­n the tour.

Early o­n, the favorites for the event were falling, as Chris Leal and Tim Perry both succumb to Connecticut native Mark Michaud 7-1 and 7-3, respectively.  But Michaud would later have to settle for a tie for fifth place. 

Tour director Marc Dionne was also playing well, advancing to the quarterfinals against eventual winner Shane Cote.  Dionne had a 5-1 lead, but Cote came all the way back to win the hill-hill match 7-6.

In the hot seat match, Cote faced Harry Nathan, and it, too, went hill-hill.  The decisive game was all about offense, as Cote ran the table to take the 7-6 win.

In the semifinals Nathan matched up against Tye Speedwell, who had just ousted Alex Morin from the event.  Speedwell kept his momentum going with a 7-2 win over Nathan, giving himself a chance to face Cote in the finals.  After keeping it close with Cote in the early games of the final match, though, Cote ran away with it to earn an 11-3 win, his first ever o­n the tour.  

Results:

1st Shane Cote $530

2nd Tye Speedwell $300

3rd Harry Nathan $185

4th Alex Morin $60

5th Walter Bryska, Mark Michaud $45