Pool tournament starts Saturday morning

Pool players from across Southwest Montana will be making their way to Whitehall later this week for the 16th annual Cori Bishop, Dave McLaughlin, Steve Dyson Memorial Pool Tournament.

The popular yearly event is scheduled to take place Saturday, January 20 and Sunday, January 21.

The Open Scotch Doubles tournament will take place at the Mint Bar, Legends, Two-Bit and Whitehall Community Center. Signups will take place January 20 in the Community Center at 10 a.m. The cost per team is $50.

According to Dwayne McClanahan of the Whitehall Pool League, the tournament is a memorial for three league players.

The 15th annual event in 2017 was a big success. McClanahan said there were a total of 51 teams and a silent auction to raise money for league members battling cancer raised $2,470. The winning team of Dan Hamper and Lance Stanchfield received $1,200. The tournament will pay out the top eight teams.

Organizers are hoping for 64 teams in 2018. McClanahan said local members recently played in a tournament in Dillon and some of the teams who competed should be coming to Whitehall.

McClanahan said the tournament brings in players who stay at the local motel, and spend money at places like the Corner Store, as well as bars and restaurants.