 Andrew Barlow
Foster City, CA 7th Place Previously recognized by many as "that English guy with the one-piece cue", Andrew Barlow is beginning to make U.S. Amateur contenders remember him for his
game. After placing 3rd last year, this paralegal's pool game is simply on fire. Before bowing out to Champion Henry Brodt in the seventh-to-last match of the weekend,
Barlow, a native of England, raced to Sunday victories against 9th Place finishers Marvin Guss and Paul Garcia by a combined score
of 14-5. Following a tough 7-2 defeat at the hands of John Shattell, Barlow finished strong Saturday night with a 7-6 thriller over Kerry Standridge, who placed 5th in 1998.
"Admittedly I'm not really a poolplayer – snooker is my game of choice," Barlow said. "But when it comes to this country's most prestigious tournament event I would like to give it my best shot.
(Sunday) I didn't play at the level I know I can, but that's just part of the game." What's interesting about watching him play is the cue he uses and the case he carries. The cue
is most often used for snooker and bears a tip about two-thirds the size of what most players use. What's amazing about Barlow's success is that he's played American 8-Ball or 9-Ball
tournaments just six times – including the U.S. Amateur Preliminary Rounds –the entire year. |
