Fundamentals Propel Cox to Fury Georgia Win

By Steve Jennings

Steve Cox said it was sheer fundamentals and practice that earned him his first tour victory o­n the Fury Georgia Amateur 9-Ball Tour.  His extra hours of practice, along with the use of audiotapes for mental concentration, paid off at the tour finale o­n November 13-14 at Murphy's Brass Rail in Athens, GA.

While Cox claimed practice as his helper, others might have thought there was something in the water, as experience overcame youth for the second straight event.  Matt Bulfin, the last youngster to be ousted, finished in a tie for fifth, which helped him wrap up the overall points championship. 

Cox wasn't the o­nly o­ne playing well over the weekend.  T.F. Whittington worked his way through the bracket undefeated, but not unchallenged.  After winning his first match 7-5, he edged out three straight hill-hill matches against Matty Ledford, Bulfin, and Te'Jay Cottman to win the hot seat.  Cox, too, was fighting in match after match but fell to Cottman 7-5 in the third round.  Cox rebounded with wins over Ledford and Jim Jennings to reach the semifinals, where he ousted Cottman to face Whittington in the finals.

In the final match, Cox took the first game, but Whittington came back with three straight to take an early lead.  At 4-all, the players agreed to a five-minute break, which may have given Cox the break he needed.  He took two out of the next three games to hold a 6-5 lead and turned up the heat from there, winning the final three racks for a 9-5 win. 

Results:

1st Steve Cox  $380

2nd T.F. Whittington $225

3rd Te'Jay Cottman $150

4th Jim Jennings  $85

5th Matty Ledford, Matt Bulfin

7th Chris Avino, Darin Brewer