Pete Masker Takes Creatures of HaBiT Part II at PhatGuy’s From the Low Side

PHATGUY’S, North Vernon, Ind. Pete Masker started on the Low side of the bracket and finished as the Stop 2 champion. Along the way he beat a 694 for the hot seat, and he held first place when he and Jeremy Hazelwood agreed to split rather than play a second set in the final of Creatures of HaBiT Part II.

Pete is a 548, and he lost only one set all day.

The title is worth 32 points. At 86 he’s second in the standings, three behind Mark Boren.

The field

Thirty players paid the $80 entry at PhatGuy Billiards & Restaurant for the Halloween stop, and play ran from Saturday afternoon into early Sunday morning. Eight played the High side (600 and up) and 22 the Low side (599 and under), with a Fargo race in every match. Once the sides merge in the final four, a Low player gives a High player one extra game.

Pete’s road through the Low side

Pete had a bye to open. Then he beat Gary Mann 5-1, Billy Williams 5-2 and Casey Dehmer 5-3.

His closest match of the day was the Low winners’ final. Curtis Schwark, a 588 racing to six, got to the hill at 5-5. Pete was racing to five, so he was on the hill too, and he won the last rack.

The hot seat

Martin Zavala Jr (694) went through the High winners’ side without a loss. He beat Dawayne Pearson hill-hill in the first round and Kevin Wampner hill-hill in the second, then beat Hazelwood 8-4 for the High side.

With the crossover spot, Zavala needed nine games and Pete needed five. Pete won 5-2 and took the hot seat.

Hazelwood’s road back

Hazelwood (614) started with wins over Ronnie Solgot 6-3 and Mark Boren 6-3. Zavala sent him to the loss side, and he beat Wampner 6-4 in the High loss-side final.

In the final four he beat Schwark 7-3, which set up a rematch with Zavala. Hazelwood won this one 6-6, racing to six while Zavala raced to eight. That put him in the final.

The final

Coming from the loss side, Hazelwood had to beat Pete twice. He won the first set 7-1, which forced a second set.

The second set wasn’t played. By then it was early Sunday morning, and the two players agreed to split the first- and second-place money evenly. Pete is the Stop 2 champion and Hazelwood is the runner-up.

Loss-side runs

Gary Mann (494) lost to Pete in the second round and then won six in a row on the Low loss side: Jason Speer 4-0, Richard Chaney 4-0, Brad Estes 4-0, Anthony Bullard 4-1, Dehmer 4-3, and Caleb Armand 4-3 on the hill. Schwark ended the run 6-1 in the Low loss-side final, and Mann tied for fifth.

Armand (489) also went deep from the loss side. He beat Keith Lewis hill-hill and won a 4-4 match with Billy Williams, who was racing to six. Armand tied for seventh.

Season picture

Two stops in, Boren leads with 89 points. Pete has 86, Wampner 85, Mann 84 and Pearson 83. Boren was runner-up at Stop 1 and tied for ninth here. Stop 1 champion Austin Axe didn’t play this one and has 64 points from a single stop.

Thanks

Creatures of HaBiT Part II was backed by title sponsor Cue Armour and supporting sponsors Beck Automotive, Jimmy the Furnace, Curry Construction & Roofing, PhatGuy’s, Royal Peak Roofing, Kennedy Creations, Danamation, D&K Pearson and Hustle & Hype Media. Thanks to PhatGuy’s for hosting, and to everybody who came in costume.

Next stop

Stop 3 is Outlaws on the Break at John Wayne’s Pub in Indianapolis, November 14-15, with a 128-player cap. Register and check in on the HaBiT app, and watch the stream at heartlandareabilliardstour.com/live.

Results

*First and second split their $1,210 evenly. Total paid out: $1,800. Full standings: heartlandareabilliardstour.com/leaderboard

Tournament director: Joe Watson (Rack’em Joe). Stream: Rackemjoe Promotions and Live Stream. Photos: Joe Watson.