Eight Deuce · Tournament #24
Jeff Holderman Wins Again, and the Two Men at the Top Meet at the End
Two years without a win, then two in three tournaments — and the second one came at Lee Ugarte’s expense.
In February Jeff Holderman ended a two-year drought. On Friday he won again, beating Lee Ugarte heads-up in under four minutes after five knockouts and three hours and fifty-two minutes. It paid $310, and it put him top of the Player of the Year race.
Between them the last two standing made nine of the night’s thirteen eliminations. Lee took $220; he has a win and a second from four starts this season and remains the man everyone is measuring against, with six Eight Deuce wins to Holderman’s three.
David Doole was third for $145, cashing for the second tournament running, and Steve McLean fourth for $105 — his first cash since he won the Tournament of Champions in November.
Where the money went
| Player | Prize | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeff Holderman | $310 |
| 2 | Lee Ugarte | $220 |
| 3 | David Doole | $145 |
| 4 | Steve McLean | $105 |
The undercard
Angela Cain bubbled in fifth, one place short of a third cash in four tournaments. Mike McEvoy, who won last month, went eleventh, and Josh Reel was the first player out, after an hour and forty-four minutes.
The bigger picture
Thirteen players and a single rebuy made $780, the smallest pool of the season and the smallest since September.
Four tournaments, three winners, and fewer than five points separate the top two: Jeff Holderman on 177.89, Lee Ugarte on 173.17.
| Player of the Year — after #24 | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeff Holderman | 177.89 |
| 2 | Lee Ugarte | 173.17 |
| 3 | Mike McEvoy | 136.67 |
| 4 | Angela Cain | 129.87 |
| 5 | Josh Reel | 123.75 |
| 6 | Warren Mervin | 97.55 |
| 7 | David Doole | 89.89 |
| 8 | Shawn Miller | 88.00 |
Eight Deuce #24 — Friday, April 14, 2023. 13 entrants, 1 rebuy, four paid from a $780 prize pool. Player of the Year counts each player’s best eight scores.