Hatch Earns Tough Joss Win

By Bill Rosenberger

A third-round defeat didn't discourage Dennis Hatch, as he earned a come-from-behind win o­n the Joss Tour.  The event, held February 12-13 at Cap's Cue Club in Syracuse, NY, drew 30 talented players including Hatch, Gary Empey, and Eddie Abraham.

The hottest cue, though, might have belonged to Danny Kolacz, who bested Hatch in the third round and then proceeded to Sunday's hot seat match against Hongsavady Vongkay.  The two battled neck and neck, and Vongkay reached the hill first at 8-7.  But Kolacz tied the match up and finished the final game off with a win. 

In the left bracket, Hatch was o­n a four-match winning streak, ousting Lester Smulowitz to reach the semifinals against Vongkay.  Hatch continued his domination with a scratch-and-claw performance, ousting Vongkay 9-7. 

In the finals, Hatch not o­nly had a chance to avenge his earlier defeat to Kolacz, but he also had a chance to earn an impressive comeback win.  In the first set, he raced to the 9-5 victory, and Hatch competed the double dip with a second-set 9-6 win.

Results:

1st Dennis Hatch $1,300

2nd Danny Kolacz $850

3rd Hongsavady Vongkay $600

4th Lester Smulowitz $400

5th Eddie Abraham, Walter Szydlonski $250

7th Kirk Rutherford, Bucky Souvanthong $125

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