Story byKOLR SpringfieldChris PinsonMon, December 29, 2025 at 5:16 AM UTC·2 min readSPRINGFIELD–Back in November, the “8 Runners Southbound” 8-ball team, from Southbound Billiards, in Springfield, Missouri headed to Cherokee, North Carolina hoping to do their best against roughly 50 teams, from around the country, in the Inaugural Ultimate Pool League 8-ball National Championship. Turns out, their best, was THE best of all the teams, and they won the title and $100,000 prize money. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKyle Burne, Toney Kemp, Gene Wineland, Robert Conrad, Ronnie Jones, and Travis Whaley each split the money and received individual trophies to commemorate their incredible accomplishment.“Other than my kids being born, this has to be up there, man,” said 8 Runners Southbound member, Travis Whaley. “I mean it truly is amazing. The money was great, but being able to be the inaugural champions you couldn’t ask for anything more.
