Championship look back. Strickland seemed helpless at times, while Lombardo would not give him any opportunities at a decent shot. Lombardo would move on with a 9-5 victory. Day 3 of the Steve Mizerak Championship was filled with enough excitement to last a lifetime. The enthusiasm and intensity filled the room at Hammer Heads Billiard Lounge. All eyes in the room were fixed on a table as some great matches unfolded. The talk of the room, by far was the two players that's still remain on the winner's side of the bracket. One player, Shane Van Boening, was a favorite coming into the tournament and no one was surprised to see his name in the hot seat slot. SVB defeated Richie Richeson (9-3) and Johnny Archer (9-4) in route to the hot seat. The second player left on the winner's side, Hunter Lombardo, has been impressed all who saw his play today. Lombardo seemed to only get better and better after each shot, after each rack, after each match. Lombardo took out Brandon Shuff (9-3) and Donny Mills (9-6). Lombardo has his sights completely focused on the task at hand and the way he is shooting, it is going to be a tall task to defeat him. The clash with SVB and Lombardo should be epic.
The day stared with a thrilling match between Alex Pagulayan and Donny Mills. Both players played cautious, as to not make a costly mistake that would put their opponent any advantageous position on the table. The score reached hill hill and it was Mills would send Pagulayan to a fourth place finish and a $6,000 prize. Up next was the hot seat match between Shane Van Boening and Hunter Lombardo. Both players had been playing superbly all weekend. SVB got up 2-0 early. Lombardo tied it up at 2 games a piece. After that it was all SVB, as he didn't let his foot off of the accelerator and took the rest of the racks to win the hot seat by a score of 8-2. Lombardo would go on to face Mills in the third place match. This would be yet another match for the ages. Mills would go up by 2 then Lombardo tied the score
sinking the 8ball and left himself a very difficult shot on the none ball. Mills' only option was a tough 9-10 combination in the corner pocket. The crowd held their breath as Mills lined up the shot and cheered loudly when he nailed the shot and sank the 10 ball to win and advance to the finals. Lombardo would finish in third place and claim the $9,000 prize. This would set up the final between SVB and Donny Mills. SVB would strike first and go up 2-0. Mills, not wanted to let it get too far out of reach tied it up at 2. SVB then went up 8-3. Mills stormed back to win the next two racks to make the score 8-5. SVB seemed like he was going to go up 9-5, but rattled the 7 and allowed Mills to get one step closer at 8-6. Mills then broke and ran the next rack to make it 8-7 and win the following rack too to finally make it square at 8. The finals would come down to a race to 3 for the crown and the $17,000 first place finish. SVB finally got an open shot on the next rack. He would make the most of it by sinking a sick 1-10 combo to go up 9-8. SVB would win the next rack to go on the hill and be on the brink of the championship. The next rack would seal the deal for SVB and he would win the 2011 Seminole Pro Tour Steve Mizerk Championship. Donny Mills would get second place and the $12,000 prize.
The finals would come down to a race to 3 for the crown and the $17,000 first place finish.
Final day of the Steve Mizerak Championship and after all the chalk dust settled, it was who was crowned the new champion.
and went up by 1 himself. Mills would then tied it back up and go up again. Mills would reach the hill first to Lombardo's 6. Of course, Lombardo would tie it up hill hill and set up one final rack to advance to the finals. Mills got a bad roll after
The Seminole Pro Tour would like to thank everyone for their support throughout the season. Until next season Rack On
October 2011 - Stroke Magazine 15