GOLD COAST

champs Nick Pollak & Paulina Egana

        Nick Pollak and Paulina Egana captured JBT titles in exciting Mojave Conference action at Gold Coast Lanes.

        After five games on the tricky Viper pattern, bowlers competed in 2-game, total pinfall matches, with byes going to the higher seeds, making qualifying very important.  Pollak earned a two-round bye as the top seed, and defended his seed with a 433-415 win over Zach Martinez.  In other matches, Derek Acuff beat Cortez Schenck in a rematch of Friday's title match, Correen Lieber made a trip from Missouri worth it by beating Saturday's champ Dallas Leong, and Kyle Andrews beat Brittany Kolatzny in an all-California battle.  

        Down to single game semifinal matches, Pollak edged Acuff 188-182, and Andrews beat Lieber 203-173, setting up a title match between two bowlers that don't have scratch titles, a fairly rare occurrence in JBT.  Both have plenty of experience, though, with handicap titles and numerous other stepladder appearances, and both have also rapidly improved into threats in the scratch division as well.  In this match, Pollak made the shots to come out on top 200-168, earning his second career title, having won his other one in December 2009.

        In the handicap division, Andrew Valdez grabbed the top seed after qualifying, but could not maintain the momentum in matchplay, falling to Zach Nash in round three.   Down to four bowlers, Mike Rose stopped Nash to move on to his first title match, while in an all-Egana other semi, big sister Pauline beat little brother (and JBT champ) Gael to advance to her first title match.

        Pauline stayed in control for most of the title game, eventually winning 212-184, joining Gael as Egana family JBT champions!

        Kolatzny avenged her loss in the main tournament with a win in the day's Women's Series event, getting past Correen Lieber for the win. 

        Thanks to the whole crew at Gold Coast for always doing a great job hosting our Tour.  Want in on the most exciting action in under-21 bowling?  Check out our schedule and come on down, that's all there is to it!