BRC KYRENE LANES

champions Wesley Buckles and Steven Pizzi, with event sponsor Steve Bodinet of Home Helpers-Direct Link

In our largest regular-season singles event in our 10-year, 300+ event history, two bowlers captured their first JBT SW victories in exciting action at BRC Kyrene Lanes.

Steven Black highlighted qualifying action with a 300 game in round four.  It was his seventh 300 in JBT play, and the 19th of his junior career, sixth best in YABA/USBC history.  It was also the second 300 in JBT SW play this season.  All 300 bowlers will split a $2000 scholarship bonus at the end of the season, courtesy of Storm Bowling, our title sponsor.

Meanwhile, Wesley Buckles, a freshman at ASU from Chicago, made big noise of his own in the semis, rolling 299-278-223 for an even 800, only the 7th 800+ series in JBT SW history. Appropriately, those two bowlers would meet in our scratch division title match.

Before the finale, BJ Baker opened up the stepladder finals with a late 5-bagger for a 235 game that defeated Forrest Holland (230) and Mike Kremer (173).  In round two, Baker escaped again, this time with a 203 that edged Kevin Saunders (189) and Theo Douthit (199), when Theo, needing 9 pins to tie, suffered a 4-6-10 split to end his day.  In the semifinal match, Buckles came on strong with a 236 to defeat Baker (206) and Jeremy Medina (181). 

The title match was, unfortunately, anticlimactic, as both bowlers struggled to adjust to the finals pair.  Buckles, however, made the better moves, and was able to coast to a 204-141 win, good for his first career JBT SW title.

In the handicap division, Chelsea Zemelka won the opening round of the stepladder finals with a 244 game that beat Richard Stone (166) and Amanda Vadnais (237), when Vadnais only got one of the two strikes she needed in the tenth.

Rakan Najdawi then won round two, as his 228 game was just enough to beat Zemelka's 217, and Cliff Castle champion Jacob Fischer's 213.  The semifinal match was a thriller, as after Najdawi finished up at 186, Chris Spinner and Steven Pizzi deadlocked at 218, forcing a two-frame rolloff.  Pizzi won the rolloff 37-31, to advance to his first title match.

The title match against top qualifier Zach Huglin was a blowout as well.  Although Huglin had lapped the field through eight games, he was unable to maintain that momentum in the title match.  A late 4-bagger by Pizzi put the match out of reach, and the 232-143 final result was good for his first career JBT SW title.

Over $200 was raised at the event to support Southern Louisiana USBC Youth.  The money will support association tournaments.  Amanda Falk, Theo Douthit, and Kevin Saunders all qualified for the 2006 Junior Gold Finals during the event.

Over $3000 was awarded to the 136 bowler field.  Big thanks to Steve Bodinet of Home Helpers-Direct Link, our title sponsor.  You can find out more about his business at our website, as well as view complete results, and videotapes of the final matches of ALL JBT SW events.  Thanks also to the great staff at BRC Kyrene for another great job hosting the 11th event at this fine center.