It is run directly preceding the Reno Open, both of which are graciously hosted by the Sands Regency.  Gene Stary and Tony Annigoni work hard to promote the twice-annual event, which has now been taking place for 18 years. 

The handicapped format is double elimination, a race to 8, and the final match is an extended single race to 11.  Of the roughly 4,000 players in the USPPA, 223 showed up to compete for the $4,000 first-place event. 

In a feature match o­n Saturday afternoon, two of the highest-ranked players, Tony Chohan (Handicap 137) and David Bounds (H153), competed against each other.  Chohan came from behind to win the match 8-5 in this nail-biting match, running two or three matches in order to do so. 

The most notable player of the tournament so far has been Austin Murphy, a 9-year-old from Folsom, CA, who was clearly the fair-haired boy of the crowd.  He and his brother Braden have o­nly been playing for two years, and both came to compete.  Braden went two-and-out, but Austin played well and ended up going home late o­n Sunday evening with 64^th place after a tense hill-hill match against Carlos Reyes. 

InsidePOOL Magazine

Sally P. Timko