PAC NW INVITATIONAL

champs Ryan Nikolas & Johnny Leggett

        Ryan Nikolas and Johnny Leggett put on red-hot performances to capture $1,000 top scholarship prizes and JBT major titles as champions of the Pac NW Invitational Tournament, hosted by Kenmore Lanes.

        Bowlers rolled 5 games of qualifying, with the top 11 scores plus 5 'exempt' players advancing to a 16-bowler, triple-elimination matchplay finals.  Tanner Spacey led scratch qualifying, but had a very rough start to matchplay, going 0-3 to bow out early.  Meanwhile, #2 Darren Stanley had the reverse situation, going 5-0 to start matchplay to get into a commanding position, highlighted by a round 4 win over Nikolas 20-19 in a rolloff, after the two had tied at 278!

        In round eight, four bowlers remained.  In that round, Connor Jackley eliminated Perry Crowell IV in IV place, while Nikolas got his first revenge on Stanley, giving him his second loss.  That left three bowlers, giving Jackley the bye, and forcing Darren and Ryan to go at it again.    Needing a double to win and stay alive, Stanley got the first hit but couldn't get the second, eliminating Darren and setting up a title match where Connor would have to beat Ryan twice to win.

        Nikolas was just getting stronger and stronger, while Connor struggled a bit in game one, and Ryan took full advantage, winning the game 255-183 to eliminate Jackley and capture the title, with only the one loss (with a 278 game!) blemishing a perfect event.  Ryan earns $1,000 for the win, while Connor earned a $500 runner-up prize (and shot 876 the next day in league!)

        #6 Tyler Hogstrom had the hottest hand in the early rounds of handicap matchplay, starting 4-0 before a loss to #4 Joey Huffman.  The rounds went mostly according to form, with 6 of the top 7 seeds advancing to round seven.  #3 Brandon Drake, #2 Alexa Lanning, and #7 Matthew Yaw all fell in that round though, leaving four survivors.  In the next round, #5 Leggett eliminated Huffman, while #10 Kevin Obrist eliminated Hogstrom, setting up a title match where Kevin would have to beat Johnny twice to win it all.

        Much like Nikolas, Leggett put together an untouchable first game, beating Obrist 237-203 to win the title, the first of his JBT career, and the $1,000 windfall. 

        In the simultaneous Girls Invitational, Correen Lieber and Makayla Douglas, the two dominant female bowlers all season, earned the top two spots and squared off for the $200 Impact Bowling bonus.  In a high-scoring, well-bowled match, Correen beat Makayla 243-234 for the Girls Invitational title.  Makayla was still the runaway girls points leader, earning Pac NW Female Bowler of the Year honors. 

        Thanks to Kenmore for hosting a JBT weekend for the first time.  Over $6,500 was awarded to a talented field of all averages and all ages.  Want in on the fun?  The new season starts August 24, check it out and be there!