by Skip Maloney, InsidePOOL Staff

Grau outlasted Pound winning two out of three to win the CNY tour stop hosted by Salt City Billiards in Syracuse, NY.

Dave Grau took two out of three from David Pound to win the opening event of the CNY 9-Ball Tour October 11. The $460-added, A,B-handicapped event drew 51 entrants to Salt City Billiards in Syracuse, NY.

Grau and Pound grappled first in the hot seat match. Grau had sent Dan Smith to the one-loss side with an 8-3 victory, as Pound was sending E.J. Worden over 7-5. In the first of their three head-to-head matchups, Grau sent Pound to the semifinals with an 8-1 victory.

On the one-loss side, Gary Empey and Jose Mendez were at work advancing ultimately to the quarterfinals. Mendez then dropped Empey into fourth place and faced Pound in the semifinals.

Looking for a second chance at Grau, Pound defeated Mendez 7-2 and got that chance. In a true double-elimination final, Pound made the most of it, taking the first set 7-3. Grau fought back, however, and successfully completed a one-loss day with an 8-3 victory that earned him the first-place prize.