WINNETKA BOWL

champs Solomon Salama & Brandon Criss; Joe Grondin, Saralyne Nassberg, Young Cho

        Solomon Salama and Brandon Criss wrapped up an incredible weekend of JBT action at our 'Memorial' events, hosted by Winnetka Bowl.

        Joe Grondin began the scratch division stepladder finals with a 244-201 win over KJ Martinez in a battle of collegiate bowlers on break.  Grondin then stopped qualifying leader Ryan Lee 247-220 to reach the title match.

        Top seed Salama had been unremarkable (by his standards) in qualifying, but then put it all together for one of the all-time JBT runs, blasting 296-258-290 = 844 for the semifinals to run away with the number one spot.  He didn't slow down one bit in the final, firing 268 to beat Grondin for the title, the 18th of his JBT career.  With the sweep of the weekend, he also earns the bonus $500 up for grabs for the weekend point leader, making it a $1,500 payday for the precocious one!

        Peter Ruiz escaped from Maikayla Villa 187-184 in the first round of the handicap finals, but the fourth place finish was enough to give Villa the weekend points lead and cash in on the $500 handicap bonus for that!  Brandon Criss then stopped Ruiz in the semifinal to advance against top seed Young Cho for the title.

        Brandon watched big brother Cameron with the Mojave Invitational the week before, and must have been inspired, as his tenth frame spare locked up a 222-220 win over a very game Cho, earning him the second title of his JBT career. 

        Saralyne Nassberg earned the day's Priority Girls Scratch win with a victory over Katelyn Abigania, while Salama finished off his epic weekend with a win over Kyler Orosco for the U17 title.

        Big thanks to the team at Winnetka for hosting us, as well as the contribution from the Salama family which made the weekend's huge prize funds possible, as we remembered those who we miss as the JBT road rolls along.  Want in on all the excitement?  Just check out our schedule and come on down!