3-C Senior Tour 2003 has now celebrating it’s 5th year.

Its appeal is not so much in the eleven rooms that participated, but in the gathering of the senior 3-C players.

Our tour is somewhat of a clan-get-together with occasional drama, such as Don Schall placing a hugh banner in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, among all of the congestion, to announce he won it all in 2002.

Due to a conflict of interest with the UMB, we now crown a USA 3-cushion Senior champion, instead of a World Champion.

Our half-day events help those players who do not wish to endure long tournaments - playing for the senior championship is fun. Our goal is to crown a champion and have a three-cushion social affair at the same time.

As George Fels recently stated (the senior-tour) "produced some fine billiards play, and helped erstwhile competitors hang on to what remains of their youth".

This year we had 10 billiard rooms participating in the 2003 event – three in California – three in Florida – two in Illinois – Denver – Tacoma our newest entry, had a 13 player field .

2003 SENIOR TOUR PARTICIPATING 3-C ROOMS

Burbank Elks, Burbank, CA
Eight Ball Billiards, Maywood, CA
Chris’ Billiards, Chicago Ill
Don Schalls, Glendale, CA
Chris’ Billiards II, DesPlaines, IL
Billiard Factory, Cocoa Beach, FL
Corner Pocket, Ft Lauderdale, FL
Pro Billiards, Orlando FL
Shakespeare’s Pub & Billiard Room, Denver, CO
Tacoma’s Elks lodge, Tacoma, WA

If you wish to join us in 2004, or have your local room enter, contact us at wharris@billiardsatlas.com

Regards,
Walt Harris, Tour Director
Ken Majewski, Home Page Genius
Don Schall, Southern California Tour Director
Frank Bondzinski, Chicago Area Tour Director
Rich Monroe, Denver Tour Director
Tom “Huf” Hofstedt, Tacoma Tour Director
David Stearns, Southern California news
George Fels, Occasional Guest Columnist
Paul Frankel, Publicity @ Professor-Q-Ball National Pool and Carom News
Sam Worley, Room news

Pro Billiards Orlando Florida

The billiard event was actually a billiard party – the nine players kidded each other all afternoon. As usual, all were intent on playing 3-C at their best level. The small crowd, along with the players, made the quiet room come to life. Football games and music in the background – lunch being served – and a six hour afternoon of relaxed interaction.

One better than average player, with hopes high and baited breath, waited to get his favorite table to play a solo game. His first ten innings were without a billiard – this was indeed grim since he, like all solo players, were hoping for a break-thru game. When the next ten innings produced no more billiards, he found himself not only talking to himself but genuinely laughing at his dry spell situation.  This got the audience laughing too. With each point missed, and his continued mumbling, the scene became infectious with laughter. Finally on the twenty-fifth inning, he scored his only point, which made a record setting a .040 solo game average and this got a round of applause.

 

Cocoa Beach, Florida  

It was the first senior tour event in this new room that was beautiful and overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. A great place to relax and forget about the world. The table was a Wilhelmina in first class condition, and the five-player field, were the usual bunch. We coupled a handicapped purse event with our senior tour. The upsets produced some unexpected results. Each year this group spends extra time practicing so as to be in “stroke” when the tour begins.

New York Bob had the entire group terrorized. Because of life long habit, he insisted on playing safe – thus keeping averages low. Seeing tough shots to shoot in this event is frustrating.

 

Chris’ Billiards, Chicago, IL

We had twelve players in flights of three. Six of the twelve were new to the senior tour and did not seem to understand that safety play in this format only drives down averages. Every one of our contestants shot well below their averages. However, we had a great gang of guys that thoroughly enjoyed the day - and wanted to do it again.

An interesting point had three of four flight winners shooting the same average in the tournament and the solo game. Some players traveled to be involved with Rich Stucker traveling from Vermont.

Chris’ Billiards 2, Des Plaines, IL

With only two Gabrial tables, we kept the field to six players. Bob Keller came in from Madison Wisconsin, Orville Broch from Rockford, IL and George Theobald from West Chicago. All six players shot their averages with the exception of one game, which had Frank Bondzinski trailing Bob Keller in the third inning 0 to 3, when he ran a 10 and out – not too shabby.

Glendale, California

On a sunny California day the seniors played at the home of Don Schall, last year's National Senior Champion. Don has a beautiful old Brunswick Arcade table, which he keeps in terrific condition. The participants were Bruce Warner from Santa Monica, Gary Cohen from Palm Springs, and David Stearns from Bonsall, a small town near San Diego. Because Don had won the national tournament last year, he was ineligible to play this year. But this did not stop Don from being a very gracious host to the participants. In fact, he personally made a tasty arroz con pollo lunch for all, and his daughter came by to help out with the meal and take photographs.

Bruce Warner, who had not previously played in the National Seniors 3-C Tournament, won the qualifying round robin, and averaged 1.0 in the first match. But luck would have it, he was unable to keep that pace, and his solo game placed him well out of national contention.

Maywood, California

With big money tournaments going on in the area the number of players was limited. Room owner Adrian Renteria employed his unlimited energy and provided everyone a terrific venue with fine Verhoeven tables and extremely knowledgeable, polite, galleries.

Angel Ambriz emerged from the small group the overall winner and played his solo 25 innings with the same accurate consistency he displayed in every other game.  Even though this was Angel’s first ever solo game he looked extremely tough throughout, finishing just under .800 when a few tough leaves dried up some juicy opportunities.  He’s one whale of a player in a very large group of excellent players to be found at Eight Ball Billiards.  Put it on your “must play” when in the L.A. area – sixteen Verhoeven tables here.

Burbank Elks, Burbank CA 

Don Schall, the reigning 2002 champion, ran the Burbank Elks annual Three Cushion Seniors Tour very professionally. The five entrants had playing averages ranging from .260 to .710. The flight winners Sam Worley and Herman Asarfan (a former national champion from Turkey.) Herman’s solo game of .400 had several very close misses, although I have seen him shoot many games over 1.000 – his style is very artistic and pleasurable to watch.

“Sudden Sam” Worley had a .960 solo average, just missing the last shot by a hair on a twice across power shot. We all enjoyed the camaraderie and competitiveness. We hope to generate future enthusiasms and continue on the senior tours tradition of Walt’s work, which has been dedicated for our benefit. I have found more information in his Atlas books than anything I have previously read. ---- Written by Sam Worley

Tacoma, Washington

Thirteen regular billiard participants showed up at Tacoma Elks #174 and paid their entry fees by 10 AM Saturday, Dec. 6.  We used a pure blind draw to set up 3 flights of 3 and one of 4, and the mix worked out OK.   Using all 5 heated Verhoeven tables, the event was finished in just under 5 hours.

Ed Brasfield, who carries about a .3 average, won his lag and started out with a 5 run, won his 10 point first game in 8 innings.  His flight's eventual winner Mark Sullivan then recovered and didn't let him win another.

Bill Sweet achieved the day's best 10-pointer. Bill got out in his rubber match with Darrel Stutesman in 6 innings.  Our two 2004 USBA Nationals entrants (Stutesman and NW USBA qualifier winner Norm Lofgren) failed to finish at the top of their flights, so they weren't in the running for the solo games.   We could have made up more competition among ourselves for side games, and we'll try to improve on that for next year's entry. Everyone says we need to practice the solo format to make a better showing. The 25 inning Solo game point totals had Bill Sweet with 8, Mark Sullivan with 7, Dave Law with 13 and Kip Hocking with 12. All in all, we had a very enjoyable day with good sportsmanship and cooperation from all players.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Your could not believe the playing conditions at Corner Pocket’ Senior Tour event. Here we were, playing on four Verhoevens that had been just recovered with Simonis cloth. How about us using Aramith spotted balls, the kind that were used in the Vegas World event. Impossible conditions to find anywhere - we are talking carom heaven.

The music throughout the room was traditional World War II; the soft kind of sounds that featured the great vocalist’s of yore and the usual Sunday football games on TV. Bill Maloney keeps his room spotless and attractive, with his staff on hand for your every wish – a treat for any cue holder. With traffic tied up for hours on interstate 95, we still managed to have a nine-player event with two standing by.

Players from as far as Cocoa Beach showed up to enjoy the action. Since the tour features many average players, it was enjoyable to witness Sandy Gubernik shoot a .800 average in his solo game. Jake Zymek and Henry Ugartechea were the other flight winners. Our relaxed Sunday afternoon of three-cushion again establishes the social side of 3-C, as our senior tour features.

 

Denver, Colorado

Thanks to Rich Monroe, the Three Cushion Senior Tour was again held at mile high Shakespeare’s Pub and Billiard Room on December 13^th and 14^th. Many players participated, with two flights of four and one flight of five players. Saturdays flight winners were Roger Shields and Butch Rodgers, who won in a marathon tie breaker. On Sunday, Rich Monroe won his flight with Robert Horecky being the runner-up. Others playing included Bruce Stuart, Dave Sellards, Tom Nachazel, Burt Sanchez, Jim Brown, Fred Everding, Steve Ogrodowski and Jim Boatman.

This 2003 tournament event was the most active Senior Tour ever at this beautiful club. As is Jerry Karsh’s custom, all the table time was gratis. In the 25 inning solo games, Roger Shields score a .800, Robert Horecky had a .680, and Rich Monroe and Butch Rodgers each scored a .400.  It was nice to have this kind of three-cushion Senior Tour turnout - as usual, everyone had fun and a good time.