News Release #29

March 18, 2012 Cary, NC – The Cary TTA sponsored a FASTT Pro event as part of the 2012 Cary Cup.  Fourteen players entered the event that sported $1,000 in prize money and so the players were split into two initial round robins. 

Shigang Yang (sponge rated 2621) of Atlanta, GA faced US Sandpaper #2 Bin Hai Chu of Miami Lakes, FL but was no match for the sandpaper experienced Bin losing 21-5, 21-8.  Winston Jimenez (who had just flown in from his native Phillipines) then took down Bin Hai 21-19, 21-17.  Shigang then defaulted to Winston after perhaps realizing sandpaper was not as easy as it looks.  Last year's 3rd place finisher Dimitri Moundous of Raleigh, NC barely edged out Ty Petty of Tennessee to finish in third place since Shigang was disqualified for the final rounds since he defaulted out.

Jim Butler of Houston, TX entered the event but had to default all his matches because he was still alive and playing in the sponge event that morning.  Defending Cary Cup Sandpaper Champion and US Sandpaper #1 Ty Hoff of Palm Harbor, FL was nearly upset by former roomate and Augusta State University teamate Scott Butler of Winston Salem, NC.  Ty won the first game easily 21-7 but Scott changed his tactics and won the second game 21-18.  Scott led the nervous Ty the whole third game until 18 all.  Ty went up 20-18 but Scott closed to 19 before one last forehand sailed long giving Ty the shaky win.  Scott however edged out Ryan Francisco of the Phillipines 21-19 in the third and DJ Settle of Wilson, NC in three games to finish second in the group and advanced to the Championship final round robin group.

Wins and losses carried over the the final group.  Scott lost to Bin Hai 22-20, 21-11 and then defaulted to Winston so that he could go coach brother Jim in the quarterfinals of the sponge event happening in the other arena.  Ty won a suprisingly easy match over Winston 21-9, 21-12.  So going into the final match between Ty and Bin it was conceivable that Ty, Bin, or Winston could still finish in first place.  Ty could either win, or get a single game, or score enough points to finish first.  Bin needed to win two straight with lopsided scores in order to finish in first.  Winston needed Bin to win two straight but by not too big of a margin.  Got it?

Ty looked very comfortable the first game and seemed to be intent on playing every single point.  Ty's forehand was on as he took the first game 21-18.  This game win ensured Ty would finish in first place with the best game record between the three players.  Bin did take the next two games 21-16, 21-12 however Bin finished in third place for the tournament due to his straight game loss to Winston earlier.  So Ty retained his title with Winston coming in second place.  Plans are to further increase the prize money for next year's event.