ISLETA FUN CONNECTION

champs Derek Acuff & Cesar Duran

Weekend Warrior, final Sunday standings, and 'mega-matchplay' semifinal charts are all below

        A JBT veteran racked up another title, while a rookie claimed his first, in exciting 'megamatchplay' action at the JBT's visit to Isleta Fun Connection.

        In 'megamatchplay', all the semifinalists play everyone else every game, with 10 bonus pins per win, creating big +/- numbers even on the demanding 34', nearly flat pattern.  In the stepladder, normal bowling resumed, with Cortez Schenck beginning the ladder with a 242-180 win over Correen Lieber.  Tez then rolled past Jacob Gill 254-179, before Armando Ortega stopped Schenck 221-191.  The third place finish was still enough to give Schenck the 'weekend warrior' bonus for the best overall two-tournament performance at Isleta, but it was Ortega who moved on to his first career title match.

        Top seed Acuff was dominant all day long on the tough pattern, losing the lead temporarily to Cortez in the middle rounds but easily regaining it by the end.  Although Ortega bowled a solid game, Acuff gave Armando no chance in the title match, as his early four bagger was enough to coast to a 224-193 win.  It's Derek's 22nd career JBT title, tying him with current USBC President Andrew Cain on the career titles list. 

        Zach Harvey opened the handicap stepladder with a squeaker victory, 192-187 over 10 year-old first time finalist Tori Salazar.  Cesar Duran then took over, stopping Harvey 206-185, and following with a 210-205 nailbiter over Jacob Lucero to reach the title match.  Lucero's third place finish would eventually tie him with Duran for the 'weekend warrior' top bonus prize.

        Top seed Morgan Ellis won a JBT title last month in Lubbock, and continued the hot bowling here by grabbing the lead after megamatchplay.  However, Duran, so new to the sport that he still uses a house ball, came up with his high game of the day, a 163 effort that easily led to a 237-175 victory over Ellis, good for the first title of his JBT career. We say any age, any average- now add any experience level to that list!

        Top seed Adel Wahner was the only female to average 200 in qualifying, and capitalized on that with a win over Courtney Schultz to earn the day's Women's Series title, her fourth on the season.

        Thanks to the team at Isleta for another great job hosting out Tour?  Want in on all this fun and action for all ages and averages?  Just check out our schedule and come on down, that's all there is to it!