Match Coverage

Lone Undefeateds Go Head-to-Head

The only remaining undefeated players in this year’s U.S. Amateur Championship squared-off Sunday afternoon with the winner advancing to the finals and the loser being sent to the one-loss side of the bracket. Facing-off were Bruce Choyce of Orlando, Fla., and Pete Genovese of New Britain, Conn.

The players began the match in the 8-Ball set, with Choyce, a newcomer to U.S. Amateur Championship competition, taking an early 2-0. Genovese, who is also co-owner of Ultimate Billiards, rallied to take the final three games of the 8-Ball set and a slim 3-2 lead.

Momentum continued to swing in Genovese’s favor in the 9-Ball set, as he took the first three games and a commanding 6-2 lead. Choyce rebounded to cut his deficit to three games, but needing only one more for the win, Genovese won the next game and the match 7-3.

Genovese advances to the finals, while Choyce will face the winner of the Joe Cutler v. Phil Stevens match.

Tetreault Avenges Early Loss

The odds of getting a chance to avenge a loss to an earlier-round opponent in the U.S. Amateur Championship are somewhat slim. Those odds do increase however the further into the event you advance. That’s exactly how Matt Tetreault of Agawam, Mass., got another opportunity at Jim Barber of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Barber defeated Tetreault Saturday afternoon sending him to the one-loss side of the bracket. Tetreault managed to recover though, winning four consecutive matches, capped off with a 7-3 victory over Chris Walls of High Springs, Fla., to force the rematch with Barber. Barber suffered his first loss to Joe Cutler of Bay Shore, N.Y.

In the rematch, Tetreault looked determined to defeat Barber. He won the first three games, but nearly lost the momentum when Barber rebounded for three wins of his own. Tetreault secured the final two games of the 9-Ball set for a 5-3 lead. Tetreault then sealed the deal, winning the first two games of the 8-Ball set and the match 7-3 to advance.

Cutler Looks to Improve on 3rd Place Finish

For Joe Cutler of Bay Shore, N.Y., last year’s U.S. Amateur Championship could be considered a great triumph or a wasted opportunity. After ousting two-time U.S. Amateur Champion Henry Brodt and defending champion Robert Hall in 2002, Cutler looked primed and ready to cruise into the finals. Cutler’s trip to the finals hit a roadblock in the form of eventually Runner-up Scott Tollefson though, leaving himself with an impressive 3rd Place finish, but also with unfinished business.

This year Cutler looks to not only make it to the “final day” of competition, but to make it the “final round” as well. Standing in Cutler’s way on Saturday evening was John Shattell of Catskill, N.Y., also a familiar face at the U.S. Amateur Championship having been apart of seven previous tournaments and finishing as high as 7th Place.

Cutler seemed unfazed by Shattell’s resume however and jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the 9-Ball set. Shattell temporarily regrouped to win the 5th game, but Cutler would quickly win the next two, extending his lead to 6-1. The players traded games to finish the 9-Ball set with Cutler leading 6-2.

Shattell showed the poise of a true U.S. Amateur Championship veteran by staving-off elimination in the first two games of the 8-Ball set, but Cutler’s lead would be insurmountable. Cutler won the fourth game in the 8-Ball set, earning a 7-4 victory and match-up against Jim Barber of Colorado Springs, Colo., in the next round.

Former Champ Looks to Regain Crown, Newcomer Looks to Make a Name for Himself

Three years ago, David Rowell of Birmingham, Ala., was on top of his game, taking the U.S. Amateur Championship in only his first appearance. However had it not been for him failing to finish better than 33rd the past two years, he may have never realized what an incredible feat he had accomplished.

For Damian McCabe, who now resides in Austin, Texas, he too had no realization of how difficult it was to capture the U.S. Amateur Championship crown. You see McCabe was still living in Ireland, his home country, and focusing more on this snooker game than dreaming of a U.S. Amateur Championship. But after moving to the states earlier this year and joining an APA League, Damian quickly became aware of the prestige associated with being the U.S. Amateur Champion.

Both competitors met head-to-head- late Saturday afternoon with Rowell looking to regain that championship form of 2000, while McCabe was looking to accomplish the same feat Rowell had – winning a U.S. Amateur Championship in his first appearance.

After winning the lag, McCabe chose to start the match in the 8-Ball set. The move appeared to be a wise one, as he quickly won the first two games. Rowell, now a U.S. Amateur Championship veteran, remained poised, knowing all-to-well that anything can happen in a Race-to-7. Rowell rebounded to win the next two games to even the match, and after McCabe failed to pocket the 9-ball to regain the lead, Rowell took the advantage.

Moving into the 9-Ball set, both players appeared a bit shaky, as each missed shots on the 9-ball in the sixth game of the match. McCabe would eventually win the game to even the match at three games apiece.

Rowell again went on the attack, taking the next two games, before McCabe could slow his momentum with a victory in the ninth game. Rowell’s experience would prove too much for the newcomer however, as Rowell went on to win the next two games and the match 7-4.