STARLIGHT LANES

champs Stefan Wood & Taylor Herson with U17 and Girls winners Daniel Hall & Bailey Dodson

        Stefan Wood added a title to his collection, while Taylor Herson added one to the family's, in exciting NM-TX Conference JBT action at Starlight Lanes at Santa Ana Star Casino.

        Previosu day's champion Nick Devlin raced out to the scratch division top seed after qualifying, but after a bye he fell to #9 Daniel Hall in matchplay.  Hall in turn was stopped by #5 Angel Ortega in a 188-160 semifinal match.  #11 Wood snuck into matchplay but then cruised, including a 247-170 semifinal win over #2 Kellen Lavery to complete the title match pairing.

        Wood is one of the toughest matchplay bowlers on Tour, and he poured on the strikes in the finale, defeating Ortega 267-226 for the 4th title of his JBT career.

        It was a Herson-heavy handicap semifnals, with both Josie (a winner last month in Lubbock) and Taylor advancing to the round of four.  In those matches, Taylor stopped the fine run of #16 Desiree Knott 197-176, while fellow youngster Kara Thompson defeated Josie 227-208 to set up the title match.

        Thompson was extremely impressive all day, but Taylor was eager to join her little sister in the winner's circle.  With a tough-fought 213-196 victory over Kara, she did just that, earning her first career JBT title with the win.

        Hall kept his roll in the U17 side event going, beating Jacob Marquis in a low scoring match 137-129, "highlighted" by both bowlers leaving pocket 7-10s in the tenth.  But a win's a win, and it's Hall's 4th in U17 this season already.  Newcomer Bailey Dodson showed the Tour she could be a new force, upsetting top seed Morgan Ellis for the Girls Scratch side event title.

        Thanks as always to the team at Starlight for hosting our Tour.  Want in on all the fun for all ages and averages?  Just check out our schedule and come on down!