Turning Stone Classic Commences

Thursday, August 14, 2008

mika_immonen_03 Mike Zuglan’s Turning Stone Classic XI kicked off August 14 with a stacked field of 128 billiard players all raring to go. This biannual event is held at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY, and features a $25,000-added prize purse.

Defending champion Johnny Archer is on hand, as is Mike Davis, who is fresh off his Seminole Pro Tour victory last weekend. Corey Deuel, recent winner of the Million Dollar 9-Ball Shootout, is present, as well as runner-up and 2007 Player of the Year Shane Van Boening, who bested Bucky Souvanthong 9-5.

Other threats to run away with the title include Shawn Putnam, Steve Moore, Gabe Owen, recent EnjoyPool.com 9-Ball Championships winner Jeremy Jones, Louis Ulrich, Robb Saez, Shaun Wilkie, Ronnie Wiseman, and Dennis Hatch.

The father-and-son team of Oscar and Ernesto Dominguez made it out from Los Angeles to do their part to take home the first-place prize. Traveling farther to be there, though, is Raj Hundal of the UK. Popular players Tony Chohan and “Rocket” Rodney Morris were scheduled to show but did not.

There are also a few ladies playing. Frequent Joss Tour contestant Karen Corr is participating and has already won her first match, defeating James Roberts 9-1. Local girl Tamiko Kumatori is on the one-loss side after her first-round match against Charlie Williams, against whom she did quite well before he defeated her 9-6. Julie Kelly, Liz Ford, Elizabeth Kirkman, Yu Ram Cha, and Joanne Ashton are also competing in this event.

Mika “Iceman” Immonen won his first-round match against Ray McNamara with a tight 9-7 score. Tighter still was Tony Robles’ double-hill loss to Chuck Altomare. And strong Northeast player Eddie Abraham defeated Randy Labonte in the first round, also hill-hill.

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