RED ROCK LANES

champs Jakob Butturff and Talon Hendrickson with Women's Series winner Megan Carlson

        Jakob Butturff became the first two-time winner of the new season, while Talon Hendrickson made it two wins for himself at Red Rock Lanes, in the exciting opening event of the 2012-13 Mojave Conference JBT schedule.

        Ben Canfield opened the scratch division stepladder finals with a 189-173 win over Steven Manier.  Joe Lewandowski then spared in the tenth frame to edge Canfield 177-169.  Butturff then stopped Lewandowski 203-172 to advance to the title match.

        The low scores above were indicative of the very challenging pattern, and it was no surprise to see top seed Dallas Leong lead the field on the grindout.  Butturff has been on a nonstop roll, though, for over a year now, and his two games in the stepladder proved to be the only 200 games in the finals, as he defeated Dallas 214-183.  The title was the 8th of Jakob's career.

        Alexis Atkin began a climb up the handicap stepladder with a 190-176 win over Gabriella Weis.  Alexis then beat fellow Arizonan Megan Carlson 208-181, and then in a thriller, beat youngster Kayla Harwell by one pin, 221-220, to reach the title match.

        Top seed Talon Hendrickson loves Red Rock, having won his only JBT title here one year ago.  He had deja vu of the best kind this time, again leading the tournament.  And again, he finished the deal, defeating Atkin 234-210 for the win, the second of his JBT career.

        Carlson got her revenge against Alexis in probably the most entertaining title match in Women's Series history.  Postponed until after the title match thanks to Alexis' run, they bowled fast and well, with Megan emerging victorious by just one pin, 181-180, for the win, getting her closer to the 2013 Girls TPC next summer.

        Thanks as always to the crew at Red Rock for hosting us.  Over $1,600 was earned by bowlers of all averages.  Want in on the fun? Come on out to a JBT event, that's all there is to it!