|
HATCHING A NEW BEGINNING
Mike Panozzo
Saturday, May 02, 1998, 11:18 PM (Central)
Playing the big boys is no handicap for Hatch.
|
When Dennis Hatch defeated Efren Reyes in the final of the 1994 Touring Players Championship in New Jersey, the then-23-year-old was touted as the tour's next dominant star. But inconsitency, both in performance and behavior, resulted in the Buffalo nativ
e becoming just another flash-in-the-pan.
Well, rumors of Hatch's demise may well have been a tad premature. The 27-year-old advanced to the winner's bracket finale of the Shooter's 9-Ball Open in Olathe, Kan., Saturday evening with an 11-8 win over Tang Hoa. It is the furthest Hatch has advanced
unbeaten since his ’94 triumph.
"I'm playing more often, and I'm playing a lot better," said Hatch, who competed in five Camel Billiards Series tournaments in ’97, placing as high as fifth, and finishing the year tied for 21st.
Hatch attributes his current success to the rigorous demands of his participation in the Ontario Tour. Playing in Toronto and New York, Hatch often has to spot tournament opponents has many as six games.
The patented Bustamante behind-the-back shot has the Filipino in winner's finale.
|
"I'm used to playing under the gun now," he said. "I know I can't miss in those tournaments, because I have to win 14 games and some of my opponents only have to win six. Even tough players in Canada like Joe Lawrence only have to win 11 or 12 games."
With a renewed attitude toward playing, Hatch has tossed in his entry fee for all eight Camel Series events in ’98.
"I'm shooting for that $60,000 top points prize," Hatch admitted. "This could be a pretty good start!"
Hatch will meet Francisco Bustamante in the Sunday afternoon winner's final. The Philippine native, now living in Keil, Germany, drubbed Tommy Kennedy, 11-2, in the other winner's semifinal.
In other Saturday evening action, Paul Potier literally saw defeat snatched from the jaws of victory in his heartbreaking, 11-10, loss to Germany's Ralf Souquet in the loser's bracket. With the score tied, 10-10, Potier fired the 3 ball into a corner pock
et, only to look up in disbelief as the ball circled its way into the pocket and then popped back up onto the table.
"I was playing so well," said the distraught Canadian. "I felt like I could have won the tournament. I'm so angry right now!"
In another hill-hill match, Buddy Hall fought back from a five-game deficit against Kim Davenport to keep his hopes alive with a thrilling 11-10 win. Davenport scratched on the 5 in the final rack to give Hall his final opportunity.
Action on Sunday begins at noon, with the field whittled down to just four players.
|
