CACTUS BOWL

champs Tim Jacob & Devin Callahan

        In an exciting final JBT event at the original Cactus Bowl, Tim Jacob and Devin Callahan captured their first JBT titles.

        Mark Myers led the scratch division qualifying, but in the best 2-of-3 matchplay he fell to #16 Bryan Van Sickle, perhaps riding the momentum of almost winning PowerBowl (but still earning $60) a few minutes earlier.  #2 Jacob had better luck, getting past Alex Watanabe and Derek Acuff to reach the semifinal, where he dispatched early-round leader #3 Shane Valleau 236-210 to reach the title match.  In the other half of the bracket, Van Sickle was stopped by #12 Ben Canfield 206-199, and Ben advanced to take on Tim for the title.

        Jacob had the title game well in hand until some shaky late frames let Canfield back in the match.  All Tim could do was watch as Ben needed to strike on his first ball in the tenth to win.  When Canfield couldn't get the hit, a stunned Jacob had the 203-199 win, and a long-awaited first career JBT title.

        James Burke grabbed the handicap division lead away from Dominic Luna in game five, but after a first round win, an injury forced him to retire against #9 Devin Callahan, who took advantage of that break to coast all the way into the finals with a 234-201 win over #5 Alexis Atkin in the semifinals.  In the other half of the bracket, #10 Kiana Garcia, who bowls league at Cactus and made her only other top-5 here, got into her first title match with a 209-191 semifinal win over Trevor Thompson.

        Callahan was looking to avenge a title match loss up in Prescott last month, and he was able to do just that with a 206-175 win over Garcia, capturing his first JBT title with the win.

        Atkin also cashed in on her chance at avenging a loss, as she beat Erica Pursell 223-186 to win the day's Impact Bowling Women's Series event.

        Thanks as always to the crew at Cactus for hosting our Tour not only today, but over 25 JBT events in the last seventeen years.  The current building will be closing in September, but the operation will be moving nearby, with an all-new renovation, keeping the Cactus name, so we look forward to a new and improved Pickle this fall!

... goodbye, old friend.  We'll meet again soon.