Hugo Patino Wins at Cue and Cushion

Hugo Patino Photo by Steve Booth

The first stop of the 2009 USBA Tour was held at Cue and Cushion Billiard Lounge in Hooksett, NH on April 17-19, 2009. Four of the country’s top players participated and were the clear favorites in this 11 player round robin to 25 points. Room owner Mazin Shooni, 2006 US Champion, had his 2 beautiful Chevillotte tables recently recovered with Simonis 300 rapide cloth. The tables were long and very slippery. Competing along with Mazin was Hugo Patino (2003, 2009 US Champion), Sonny Cho (2005 US Champion), Michael Kang (Carom Café owner and top US player), Jim Shovak (USBA Secretary/Treasurer), Bob Page from Massachusetts, Juan Elizalde from Dallas, Texas, Leonard Collibee from Massachusetts, Rick Kirk from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Andrew Janquitto from Maryland and Steve Brodie from Connecticut.

Tournament highlights: Sonny Cho scores 25 points in 9 innings for the tournament best game. Bob Page upsets Michael Kang 25-14 in 23 innings. Electronic scoreboards were used which the spectators absolutely loved. They were able to keep track of the score as well as the innings and a 1 minute time clock per shot was used with 2 extensions per game. This kept the games moving along. Players who were not playing at the time were placed in the schedule to run the scoreboards.

Going into the final match, both Hugo Patino and Mazin Shooni both had records of 8-1. The winner would determine the tournament champion. Jim Shovak refereed the final match. Mazin took a 10-5 lead, looking strong, but Hugo started scoring points and leaving tough. With the score at 17-12 in favor of Patino, Hugo showed why he is the current US Champion by running 8 points and out to win handily, 25-12 in just 14 innings. The crowd cheered and applauded approvingly at Hugo’s feat.

The 2nd through 4th place finishers all had records of 8-2 and were determined by total points scored. Sonny Cho came in 2nd, Mazin Shooni came in 3rd and Michael Kang finished 4th. Juan Elizalde edged into 5th place by defeating Jim Shovak 25-22. Bob Page actually had a chance for 4th place after upsetting Michael Kang but lost to Shovak 25-9 and Collibee 25-7, pushing him to 6th place.

After the award ceremony, a raffle was held with 3 billiard cues up for grabs. The first was a Gabriels cue which was won by photographer Steve Booth. Then an Adam RCH-2 cue (generously donated by Adam Cues) was won by Rick Kirk. Finally, a Kilby cue (generously donated by cuemaker Ron Kilby) was won by Juan Elizalde.

PRIZE FUND = $ 7,060.00

1st Place = $ 2,300.00 : Hugo Patino
2nd Place = $ 1,800.00: Sonny Cho
3rd Place = $ 1,500.00: Mazin Shooni
4th Place = $ 1,200.00: Michael Kang

HIGH RUN = $ 130.00: Sonny Cho: 9
BEST GAME = $ 130.00: Sonny Cho: 2.778 average

Tournament Chart in PDF format

Hugo Patino (1st), Sonny Cho (2nd), Mazin Shooni (3rd), Michael Kang (4th) Photo by Steve Booth

For more photos of the players and event, click the following link
for photographer Steve Booth's website:

http://onepocket.smugmug.com/gallery/7935476_HaLXY#514967359_SwSED

We would like to thank the following:

-Room owner Mazin Shooni for adding money to the prize fund and generously providing a celebratory banquet for everyone on Sunday.

-Photographer Steve Booth for generously taking pictures of the event.

-Tony Ferrara, Daniel Sousa and Drew Dangelmayer for making sure that the tables and the balls were always clean and ready to go.

-Tony Ferrara for volunteering many times to run the scoreboard.

Sponsors:

-Iwan Simonis
-Aramith
-Adam Cues
-Kilby Cues

Financial Sponsors:

David Levine, Jim Shovak, Bob Jewett, Professor-Q-Ball (Paul Frankel), Creative Billiard Shirts, Michael Kang, Andrew Janquitto, Dean Harrell, Pedro Piedrabuena, Robert Byrne, Tom Resk, Mazin Shooni, Dr.Cue Promotions (Tom Rossman), Bruce Warner, Mike Walo, Jim Watson, Tommy Thomsen, Tom Haskin, Jamil Isreal, Bob Roach, Mike Melloy, Don Sperber, Norm Brust, Ed Friedman and Pat Young.

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2009 USBA Tour: OPEN TOURNAMENT
Cue & Cushion Billiard Lounge, Hooksett, NH: April 17-19, 2009

CUE & CUSHION BILLIARD LOUNGE in Hooksett, New Hampshire will host the first
stop of the 2009 USBA 3-Cushion Billiards Tour with some of the top billiard players in the country participating. Featured players include current and two-time National Champion Hugo Patino of New York, 2008 National Champion and Artistic Star Miguel Torres of New York, 2006 National Champion and Cue & Cushion owner Mazin Shooni, 2005 National Champion Sonny Cho, the legendary eight-time National Champion George Ashby of Illinois, and Michael Kang of New York, consistently one of the top-ranked players in the country.

PLAYER'S MEETING: Thursday, April 16th at 8:00pm

PLACE: Cue & Cushion Billiards & Lounge, 1271 Hooksett Road, Unit #2,
Hooksett, NH 03106.

PLAYERS: Limited to 11. Round-robin format. 25 point matches.

ENTRY FEE: $255 for "A" Players (.800+ average). All others: $155.
Current USBA Membership required.

PURSE: Estimated $7,000 based on pledged added money and 11 players: First Place $2,500; Second Place $1,800; Third Place $1,400; Fourth Place $1,200, High Run to be determined during tournament.

TABLES: Two Chevillotte Carom Tables with new Simonis Tournament Cloth.

FEATURES:

1) All players will also be required to be a scorekeeper according to the tournament schedule.

2) Sshot-clock will be used with 2 extensions per match

3) Full tournament attire: vest, tie, black pants, black shoes

4) Raffle of two Custom Cues provided by sponsors

5) Celebratory Buffet

ACCOMODATIONS: Mazin Shooni will make arrangements for players to stay at the Fairfield Marriot down the street from Cue & Cushion. April 16th - 19th. There are currently 6 rooms booked under Mazin Shooni's name at a rate of $85.00 + tax.  Please call the hotel at 603-606-5485 and ask to change one of these reservations into their name.  They will be responsible for providing a method of payment upon check in. The address and website information are listed below.
Fairfield Inn & Suites - Hooksett
8 Bell Ave
Hooksett, NH 03106
Ph: 603-606-5485
Fx: 603-606-5491
http://www.marriott.com/mhtho
http://www.jitenhotels.com

INFORMATION: For further information, call Mazin at 248-910-4466.

Thank you and hope to see you in April,

Mazin Shooni
USBA Director
248-910-4466 cell

603-623-5330 pool room

Hotel and Rental Car Discounts:

The USBA has a contract with Choice Hotels International. If you would like to receive at least a 15% discount at Choice Hotel locations, please refer to your Membership Package for details or you can access the USBA Forum "Members Only" area. To become a USBA Member, click "Join" at the top or the upper left side of this page and follow the instructions to pay by credit/debit card through PayPal. You do NOT need a PayPal account to use PayPal. You can also mail in membership dues by check.

USBA Members also receive between 5-10% discount from the following car rental companies, if they service the area: