"Repeat Randy" Holland Earns His 2nd 2008 W.O.G. Trophy
The 2008 Winnin' o' the Green series continued with event #8 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo where 101 players battled for a first prize of $11,016. Play was brisk for a split game and the 8-handed final table was set at 11:30pm. Brent Carter, who finished 2nd to Randy Holland in the Pot Omaha Hi-Lo event, was the bubble boy as he busted out in 9th place for $590.
The first elimination occurred after 21 hands of pot chopping and conservative play with no player being short stacked. On hand #22 with four players in the pot to 7th street, Henry Minasyan had 6-K4-x showing and mucked his hole cards once Norman Epstein showed his two-pair for the high. Henry Minasyan finished in 8th place and earned $735.
The next big confrontation occurred on hand #28 when Alex Dedoussis went all-in on 6th street with 3-2-J-7 (A-9-K) against Randy Holland's 7th street flush 8-3s-2s-As (4s-6s-Js) and 6 low. Alex Dedoussis was eliminated in 7th place and took home $880.
As the limits raised, the action increased to the point of 3 eliminations in 3 hands. On hand #37, David Young had his last chips in the pot with 5-6-2-3 (Q-5-x) against Joshua McSparren's 10-A-A-6 (J-J-x). David missed his low and Joshua's Aces-up scooped the pot. David Young ended in 6th place and earned $1,175.
The next hand had Joshua McSparren covering Reza Golestani. Joshua had A-3-J-7 (K-Q-7) and made his flush on 6th street (sorry I couldn't get all the suit info). Reza had 5-6-9-3 (3-4-x) and missed his low. Reza Golestani took 5th place and earned $1,470.
On the third consecutive hand, we lost a player. Hand #39 had Paul Keefe all-in with 4-J-7-7 (x-x-x, mucked his hole cards) against Randy Holland's two-pair 10-3-10-5 (K-8-3). With no qualifying low hand Randy scoops another pot and sends Paul to the rail. Paul Keefe earned a respectable 4th place finish and cashed in for $1,765.
The 3-handed table discussed a save and a chip count deal. The discussion concluded with a $2,000 save and the trophy on the line. It took 14 hands before Norman Epstein was all-in on 5th against Randy Holland. Norman had 4h-9h-5h-4 (2-4-10) missing his flush and low possibility. Randy had 8-5-A-3 (9-6-7) for a 9-high straight and 7 low. Randy scoops and Norman Epstein finishes in 3rd place for $2,940. Norman's patient wife was waiting on the sidelines for over 3 hours while Norman rode the chip stack roller coaster.
Heads-up play began with Randy Holland have about a 60/40 chip lead. It took 38 heads-up hands to determine a winner and the final hand of the tournament started when Randy held about 80% of the chips and was often raising with any bring-in. Joshua took his stand with a flush draw on 4th street that did not complete. Joshua had 10-8-9-3 (9-5-x) against Randy's 5-A-K-Q (K-2-3). Randy's pair of Kings bested Joshua's 5s and neither player made a low. Randy scoops and wins his second 2008 Winnin' o' the Green trophy which came with $11,016 in cash. Joshua McSparren played a strong and confident final table and finished runner-up for $5,290.
-- Jay "Bugsy" Siegel
BIOGRAPHY
Randy Holland prefers split games but plays them all. Randy earned his 2nd trophy in this series and they are both in split games (PLO8 & Stud H/L).
Randy has been playing professional poker since 1993. Randy just finished 2nd in the overall points at this year's LAPC. He earned 2 WSOP Bracelets, one in RAZZ and one in Stud H/L in 2000. | 
