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FIVE for EARL?
by Kirstin Pires
Four-time US Open champ Earl Strickland is the lone American - the
lone Westerner, for that matter - remaining among the trio of
players who still have a shot at the $50,000 25th Anniversary
U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships.
Strickland remains undefeated and awaits the winner of the
Francisco Bustamante / Takeshi Okumura match now underway.
Strickland defeated Okumura
11-5 earlier today. It was Okumura who sent Bustamante to the
losers side in sweet 16 action yesterday, 11-9. Bustamante
came through two-time US Open champ Buddy Hall, 11-6, and fellow
Filipino Rodolfo Luat 11-9 to get to Okumura, a WPA world title
winner.
The unpredictable Strickland remained fairly calm throughout his
match with Okumura, scolding the crowd only once and then sniping
at his opponent when the diminutive Okumura fidgeted in his seat
as Strickland prepared to break.
The final match is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.
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Bustmante must shoot past Okumura this time to advance to the final.
Takeshi Okumura considers the options
Bustamante has left him in their match to determine who will meet Strickland in the final.
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